Alleged $620,000 bribe: Farouk Lawan, Emenalo lose bid to stop trial

By The Rainbow
Alleged $620,000 bribe: Farouk Lawan, Emenalo lose bid to stop trial
Alleged $620,000 bribe: Farouk Lawan, Emenalo lose bid to stop trial

The Court Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by former Chairman, House of Representatives  Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime and its ex-Secretary,  Farouk Lawan and Boniface Emenalo.

They had challenged the decision of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the effect that they both had a case to answer in relation to allegation that they received $620, 000 as bribe from the Chairman,  Zenon Oil and Gas, Femi Otedola, ostensibly to exclude the names of Otedola's companies – Zenon Petroleum and Gas and Synopsis Enterprises Limited – from the list of companies found to have allegedly defrauded the Federal Government of billions of naira.

The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, held that the appeal by Lawan and Emenalo was unmeritorous and consequently dismissed it.

Progress had been halted in the case lately owing to the elevation of the trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi to the Court of Appeal.

The court' Chief Judge is expected to reassign the case to a new judge before whom the case will begin afresh.

Prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) said he would do a letter to the Chief Judge asking him to re-assign the case.

Lawan and Emenalo are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Commission (ICPC) for allegedly receiving $620, 000 as bribe from the Chairman,  Zenon Oil and Gas, Femi Otedola, ostensibly to exclude the names of Otedola's companies – Zenon Petroleum and Gas as well as Synopsis Enterprises Limited – from the list of companies found to have allegedly defrauded the Federal Government of billions of naira. Nation