How PDP scrambled to cover up $620,000 bribery scandal
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The ruling party's intervention denied Nigerians of a bizarre drama that would have seen $620,000 cash displayed in the House of Reps during plenary

An intervention by the top echelon of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) halted a planned inquiry into the USD620,000 bribery scam involving oil billionaire, Femi Otedola, and chairman, House of Representatives ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy management, Farouk Lawan, lawmakers familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

It also disrupted plans to exhibit the $620,000 cash on the floor of the House during plenary.

The mediation came after Mr. Lawan intimated the leadership of the scandal, and a possible legislative investigation was considered more than a month after the exchange took place, the members told PREMIUM TIMES.

The party hierachy reportedly warned against any move by the House that would “embarrass” to Mr. Otedola, a well-known PDP financier with links running throughout the governing party’s leadership structure and the Federal Government.

Our sources said after Mr. Lawan received intelligence that he had been trapped, he tried hard to move ahead of the Otedola camp by tabling the cash before plenary, in what some sources describe as a last gasp effort to save his integrity.

On the last day of plenary, before the House went on recess, the embattled lawmaker reportedly begged the leadership of the House to allow him raise a motion detailing how he was offered bribe by Mr. Otedola, and how he received the cash to demonstrate to Nigerians that his committee came under tremendous pressure during its assignment.

Mr. Lawan, those close to him say, had also planned to tell his colleagues that he kept quiet for a while about the bribe because he envisaged a controversy which might overshadow the significance of his committee's report.

Our sources said the PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur, got wind of Mr. Lawan's plan, and he quickly contacted him and the leadership of the House, requesting them not to do anything that would bring the ruling party and one of its major donors into disrepute.

Mr. Lawan was assured the party would wade into the matter and resolve it in a manner that would be satisfactory to all parties.

The ad hoc committee chairman agreed, but discreetly tried to leak the matter to the media, our sources say.

The Otedola camp, which enjoys the support of the State Security Service and the presidency, soon became aware of Mr. Lawan's plan. It moved very fast, leaking the story to select newspapers ahead of the embattled lawmaker.

Farouk Lawan's regrets

"One thing Farouk Lawan regrets very seriously today is that he listened to the PDP and failed to lay the bribe before the House as planned," a top official of the House said. "He regrets listening to the party and sees that obedience as his major undoing. He feels the PDP colluded with Otedola to undo him, placing him on the defence."

The PDP's intervention and directive seems to underline the claim by some Nigerians that the ruling party tolerate corruption especially with its name featuring in some of the major corruption scams in Nigeria's history.

However, on Tuesday, the party responded swiftly denying it played any role in Farouk Lawan bribery scandal.

“No such thing ever happened,” spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, told PREMIUM TIMES.”The party is not aware of that, and the party does not condone corruption.”

The blame game

The claim by the lawmakers and the party’s denial, appears a continuation of the regime of blame and counter blame that have characterized the scandal since it broke last week.

Mr. Lawan and Mr. Otedola have accused each other of being the initiator of the bribery scheme, while they view their own roles as merely helping to expose fraud.

Mr. Lawan has denied seeking or receiving gratification to exonerate Mr. Otedola’s oil firm, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, amongst the list of indicted companies marked for a likely government’s criminal action.

He maintained the same position in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

The lawmaker however admits receiving the USD600,000 from Mr. Otedola, not as “bribe”, but as an evidence that the committee came under intense pressure, and also to buttress his claim that the business tycoon had sought to influence the committee’s findings with bribe.

In details earlier made available to the media, Mr. Lawan said he reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, and the chairman, House committee on Financial Crimes and Narcotics, Adams Jagaba.

Questions, questions and more questions

That explanation claims the amount received from Mr. Otedola - USD620,000 - was sent to Mr. Jagaba as an “attachment” to a letter explaining the businessman’s fraudulent move.

Not minding the weighty allegation, Mr. Jagaba, a second term member, repeatedly turned down media requests for comments.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted him on Tuesday afternoon, he was polite, but again declined to respond to our questions.

“I am sorry, I respect PREMIUM TIMES, but I cannot say anything on this,” he said before discontinuing the call.

In part, the shock and the scale of the scandal, and lawmakers’ frustration at its damning effect on the House, have seen many members avoiding comments, and where they speak, they do so anonymously. Those who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES refused to be named.

After being headlined for series of corruption cases, the latest crisis has ignited fury and many lawmakers are said to view Mr. Lawan’s purported reaction after receiving the money naively under video glare, as an afterthought initiated in the wake of realizing he had been nailed.

“A principal officer who watched the video said the content will make anyone be ashamed to be a lawmaker,” one member said.

Concerns have been about receiving the cash in person at the house of someone Mr. Lawan said “pressurized” his committee to pay bribe.

Questions have also been raised on why it took long for the incident to be reported as indicated on the letters, and why the money had been lodged with an individual - Mr. Jagaba, instead of a law enforcement agency or the Central Bank.

Mr. Tambuwal's sealed lips

The money exchanges took place between April 21 and 24, 2012. Mr. Lawan said his letter to the police was on May 9, although he contacted Mr. Jagaba on April 24.

Our sources however say when the leadership was eventually informed, and a probe planned, the effort was blocked by the party which ordered against hurting Mr. Otedola’s interest since he supported the party, PREMIUM TIMES was informed in separate interviews.

Imam Imam, who speaks for the speaker of the House, declined comments on whether the speaker was in the know about the deal. House spokesperson, Zakari Muhammed, too could not be reached. His phones failed to connect calls.

The party’s role in the matter seems to back this website’s earlier report citing security sources who disclosure the political underlines of the bribery, and how Mr. Otedola may have represented government’s interest.

Known to have close ties with President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Otedola made huge donations for the president’s 2011 election campaign, and has been accused of being one of the major beneficiaries of a largely fraudulent fuel subsidy scheme, although he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The PDP however said while it backed the House in its “oversight” functions, it did not mean it supported corruption.

“Farouk Lawan is trying to explain itself. The party will wait for the findings of the National Assembly and the law enforcement on the matter. The party does not condone corruption,” party spokesperson, Mr. Metuh said.

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Another concorted imagination of the reporter. Everybody seeking for relevance these days

The op was one of those in another thread who called beaf all sorts of name that facrook lawal was been framed that he did collect bribe now he is back with another fairy tale abeg make una go sleep with una hypocracy

”*he didnt collect bribe

Haba bros...
My argument all along has been that all angles need to be looked at.

Just to be clear, I make absolutely no apologies for making those of you who are known sycophants for the current administration work harder on these boards.

Farouk must fall on his own sword as probity demands, but so also must the other thieving basta#rds you are hell bent on protecting .

karl max: [b]The op was one of those in another thread who called beaf all sorts of name [/b]that facrook lawal was been framed that he did collect bribe now he is back with another fairy tale abeg make una go sleep with una hypocracy

Thankfully all threads can be looked up. No need to lie.

Bawss1:

Thankfully all threads can be looked up. No need to lie.

Absolutely.
One good thing about NL is that all discussions on this subject remains in public view for anyone with more than a passing interest.

Already, some legal experts have stated that Otedola and the security operatives, going by Otedola’s account, are guilty of entrapment. Indeed, it is curious that the Goodluck Jonathan government would seek to entrap members of the investigating panel rather than go after those suspected to have stolen N2.6trillion in the name of subsidy payments. The N2.6trillion theft is still the bigger issue. If found guilty of entrapment, Otedola should be punished, just as Lawan should face the music if found guilty of taking a bribe. Both the giver and taker of a bribe are culpable.

This scandal has been following a familiar path. Four short years ago, a House of Reps panel on power exposed the looting of $16billion in the power sector. Rather than implement the panel’s report, agents of the law went after the panel’s head, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on bribery charges. Nothing was proved. Elumelu is still in the House. The reports of several other panels that unearthed monumental frauds have been rotting in the archives or lost. Stories of how a gang of six stole more than N32billion pension funds are still fresh in people’s memories, even as the accused are having their days in court. A few convicted for wrecking banks or stealing state funds were given very light sentences or freed based on a fraudulent “plea bargain”.

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I say,should we still be talking only on Mr. Farouk? Abi we should be talking FGN,Subsidy,Mr. Otedola and Mr Farouk.I can't understand the twist to all this crap.The government has being foot dragging all this while over the subsidy probe because the culprits are PDP elements.Alot of heads will roll if only the FGN was truly anti-corruption and opposed to such criminal cabals,not a sympathizer of the subsidy cabal.
Now PDP is telling Farouk not to shame Otedola by bring the cash to plenary.Is it that PDP thinks Nigeria is PDP and is owned by this crap of a fraternity killing all that is good.
Honestly am disappointed at the presidency over this issue and really feel president GEJ is not ready to transform this nation or derail the corruption trend in this nation,How hard is it to simply call the SSS,Police,ICPC and EFCC bosses to know ask them to have a task force dedicated to this case considering the magintutde in revenue lost from the FG purse.Then round up this people and carry out investigation swiftly and prosecute them.Whatever the case.
Truly Law enforcers,EFCC and ICPC are just some bunch of political tools for the PDP.This agnecies don't even need to be told.Is it not an offense to offer or collect bribe in the Nigerian constitution or what? What the hell are this morons doing free.We should be watching them confess in court not on the media and from there offices.