Farouk Lawan Testifies Behind Closed Doors.

Embattled Farouk Lawan, former chairman, ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy management, who allegedly collected $620,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, chairman, Zenon Oil, on Thursday, appeared before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over his involvement in the bribery scandal.
Lawan, who entered the investigation room about 1:06p.m, dressed in white ‘agbada’ with cap to match, remarked, “Mr. Chairman it is a full house” on sighting over 50 newsmen waiting earnestly for his arrival. Lawan, who allegedly demanded and collected $620,000 from Otedola was granted bail by the police and directed to produce the marked dollar bills.

Gambo Dan-Musa, Chair¬man, House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, explained that Otedola and other stakeholders invited by the committee will appear on separate dates. Lawan was appointed chairman of the ad hoc committee to investigate oil subsidy regime and monitor its utilisation, following a series of demonstrations which crippled movement and business and almost grounded the nation’s economy in January, following partial removal of fuel subsidy.
Following this, the House through a resolution urged the Federal Government to rescind its decision and return to status quo. Dan-Musa said, “There was then what looked like a twist, but is it? We shall find out. I am referring to the bribery allegation of $620,000 which was said to have been offered and taken. The House again rose to the occasion by ending its short recess and reconvening on a Friday to discuss the issue.”
He also assured Nigerians and all the people concerned that the committee will carry out its assignment with a very high sense of commitment and will be fair and just to all parties involved, adding that the final report will meet the expectations of the House and indeed Nigerian public. After declaring the meeting open, Dan-Musa asked all the newsmen and other staff to vacate the committee room for a closed door session.
BusinessDay, however, gathered that the decision to conduct the investigation behind closed doors was to prevent Otedola and other parties from having pre-knowledge information from previous testifier (Farouk Lawan).
In a related development, Adams Jagaba, Chairman, Committee on Narcotics, Drugs and Anti-corruption, has denied being invited by the police over the $620,000 bribe-for-clearance saga. Jagaba, who expressed shock on the media report, however, expressed concern that it appears some people are desperate to implicate him in the scandal.
“I have never received any invitation from the police to that effect but I am surprised reading in some newspapers that I was invited and I refused to appear. “To put the record straight, neither my office in the National Assembly, nor that in my constituency is in receipt of the said letter purportedly written to me by Farouk. In fact, I also saw it for the first time in the newspapers as published”, the lawmaker argued.
Meanwhile, the Senate will next week commence consideration of compiled reports of its standing committees on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to determine compliance with budget implementation.
The over 50 standing committees were given standing orders by the leadership of the Senate March this year to prepare quarterly reports of the MDAs. Sources disclosed on Thursday that Senate President David Mark had directed that Committee on Rules and Business headed by Eta Enang begin listing of the report on the order paper from next week.