Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe, Hon. Farouk Lawan, had his hope for freedom dashed as the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal seeking to quash his 5-year jail term.
Lawan was found guilty of demanding $3 million from Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Chief Femi Otedola, during the fuel subsidy probe in 2012.
Justice Angela Otaluka sentenced him to seven years in prison in June 2021, a decision that was later reduced to 5 years by the Court of Appeal.
Lawan argued that he was not allowed to make a plea for leniency before sentencing.
The Supreme Court, however, affirmed the judgement, stating that the failure to call for allocution did not vitiate the sentence.
Lawan has been in prison since 2021, and the Supreme Court’s decision marks another setback in his quest for freedom.
