₦airaland Forum

Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Hon. Farouk Lawan, yesterday told the Inspector- General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, that Otedola traced him to his Protea Hotel room in Apo to offer the bribe.

He said this is contrary to the ‘lies’ that the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola, fed the public that he (Lawan) went to Otedola’s house to collect the first $250,000 to clear his company of any wrongdoing in the subsidy scandal.

He said Otedola came to his hotel room where he was hiding to evade pressures from oil marketers under the guise of bringing documents about Zenon Oil showing that it was not part of the fuel subsidy scam.

He told the IGP yesterday that he collected the dollars to protect himself and for use as exhibit against Otedola.

He also told the Police that no security agency, whether State Security Service, SSS, or any other, was ever involved in the so-called sting operation against him, adding “a sting operation does not take the sting operator nearly two months before telling the press, rather than the police or other security agencies of his alleged sting operation.”

Giving what he called the unabridged and unedited account of how the Chairman of Zenon Oil, Otedola attempted to bribe him with the controversial $3m cash to clear his oil companies that were indicted by the committee, he claimed yesterday that he never solicited for any bribe from Otedola nor collected any money for the purpose of clearing Otedola’s companies.

He has already hired four respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, to battle the oil magnate over the bribery saga including Mr. Rickey Tarfa, Mr. Israel Olorundare, Chief. Mike Ozekhome and Sam Ologunorisa.

Lawan disclosed yesterday that, in a matter of days, he would not only prove that Otedola did not entrap him in any sting operation but that he was the one that trapped Otedola by serving as agent provocateur in order to establish bribery case against the oil magnate.

In fact, he dared, members of the SSS allegedly used by Otedola for the controversial sting operation or any other person for that matter, to produce for public inspection and viewing the video or film and call logs of the conversation between him and Otedola unedited and undistorted. He said it will be seen that the entire story sold to the public and the police by Otedola is nothing but an after thought, total fabrication and a diet of deliberate falsehood and half truths.

In two separate petitions by his lawyers to the IGP yesterday, Lawan is wondering why he is being harassed based on the allegation of Otedola when he committed no crime instead of the police to go after the alleged bribe giver who was reported a month before Otedola granted interview on the bribery to a national newspaper.

He also protested the degrading treatment meted out to him by the police during his invitation.

Otedola had alleged that it was Lawan that approached him for the $3m bribe to exonerate two of his companies including Zenon from those indicted in the just-concluded fuel subsidy probe.

The oil marketer, who claimed to have informed the law enforcement agencies, said he eventually agreed to offer $3m bribe with an initial deposit of $620,000 in three instalments

He said on April 21, the Saturday before the plenary, Lawan came in person to his residence and collected $250,000 in cash, as the first instalment, “then the next Monday night he came and collected another $250,000.

“On Tuesday, at 9a.m., just before the House commenced sitting, Boniface (committee secretary) came and collected another $120,000.”

Otedola confirmed that during the sting operation, Lawan and Boniface collected a total of $620,000 in three instalments as part of the $3m demanded from him.

He added that with the $620,000 that had been extorted by Lawan and the committee, during the plenary, Zenon’s name was removed from the list of companies that had bought foreign exchange but did not import products.

But reacting, Lawan said contrary to the story making the rounds, it was Otedola that came to his hotel room to offer the first instalment of the bribe which he claimed he collected to entrap him.

In one of the petitions written by Ozekhome on behalf of the embattled lawmaker and released to newsmen yesterday, he said: “It has become necessary to write this petition to situate the facts of this unfolding saga in their correct historical and contextual perspectives and to correct the funny, phony, insidious and invidious falsehood currently making the rounds in a section of the press to the effect that:

*That our client went to collect the sum of $500,000 in Mr. Femi Otedola’s house in Lagos. *That our client, in taking this ‘bribe’ kept some in his pocket, and the left over inside his cap.

*That our client demanded from Mr. Femi Otedola the sum of $3m to kill the bad report concerning his companies, Zenon Oil and AP ( now Forte Oil).

*That Zenon Oil was eventually deleted from the report because our client affirms that these are complete lies and fabrications.

*That Zenon Oil was eventually deleted from the committee’s report on the 24th of April 2012 because of the dollar bribe given to our client by Mr. Femi Otedola.

In the nine-page petition by Ozekhome, Lawan said he never solicited for the controversial $3m bribe to clear Otedola’s oil firms

The petition reads: “Contrary to the various false publications in the press, our client maintains that whilst the report of the Committee had been compiled, written and presented before the House and he was putting finishing touches to its formal debate in his hotel room at Protea Hotel, Apo, Abuja (to which he had relocated from his house to escape the unbearable pressure mounted on him by oil marketers, including Mr. Femi Otedola, he was surprised when Mr. Femi Otedola surfaced in the hotel on Saturday April 21, 2012 and called his room number.

“When our client let him in, he brought a bundle of documents for his oil companies, Zenon Oil, already indicted in the reports, did not participate in the fuel subsidy scam. Our client states that at this time, both Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum had been both indicted in the report based on available evidence. Mr. Femi Otedola claimed he was already aware of this indictment hence he decided to personally bring documents to convince our client that it was not the case.

“Our client collected the documents. As Mr. Otedola was about to leave, he handed over the sum of $250,000 to our client which he said was to ensure that his companies were removed from the list of indicted companies. This was in the evening of Monday, the 23rd of April, 2012, a few days before the report had actually been laid before the House on the 17th of April 2012. Our client informed us that he had collected the money to display as exhibit that the committee had been under severe pressure and subtle threat to compromise its report.

“Our client states that Mr. Otedola then called him severally and even pleaded with him to come to his house at Aso Drive, Abuja for more of the documents which he claimed he had forgotten to bring along to our client’s hotel room at Protea Hotel, Apo, Abuja. Our client said he played along by going to Otedola’s house in the early hours of the 22nd of April 2012 during which Mr. Otedoa handed over to him more documents and a further sum of $250,000. Our client states that Mr. Otedola further offered to give the sum of $3m.

“As soon as he had collected the total sum of $500,000, our client immediately wrote a letter at 3:47 a.m. on the 24th of April 2012 to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes with letter titled: “Offer of Monetary Inducement by Femi Otedola to Influence Committee Report.” Our client attached the sum of $500,000 offered by Mr. Otedola to him with a promise to bring another $2.5m.”

He said Otedola was bombarding him with calls, some days up to 20 calls especially on the night of April 20 when he received over 30 calls from him.

He said he opted to collect the money to keep as exhibit because of the desperation, hostility and veiled threats in cajoling him over the Committee’s report.

He added that there was a night he received over 50 missed calls from Otedola as he deliberately kept away from his undue pressure.

Lawan said that he also reported the matter verbally to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on April 20, 2012 when there were over 30 calls.

He said the Otedola’s Zenon was removed from the list of the inducted companies because of the documents he brought which he never presented during the entire sittings of his committee.

The lawmaker said another company called Synopsis Company was also delisted following the discovery that it fell in the same category with Zenon’s.

He argued that if he had collected the said bribe from Otedola to clear his companies, the committee would not have indicted AP Petroleum Oil and Zenon Oil.

“Only Zenon Oil was delisted based on fresh available evidence later presented by Otedola. AP Petroleum Oil was indicted for round tripping and was never delisted,” he said.

He also said that he was really the complainant and not the accused as the public is being made to believe as he allegedly interacted, exchanged letters and made bribery allegations against Otedola well over a month before the said Otedola announced his so-called sting operation.

you talk of nothing

Spirit of Okija: I dare him to go out and buy corn on the streets of Owerri at night without escort or SSS detail, Them go kidnap am before ehn fit spell Okorocha..

That ehn 24 wheeler Mack truck of a wife would be worth a shitload of money if to say them dey value kipnap victims by weight..

Is revelation of such information a right thing on their part..they definitely want to use it for more harm than good..thought its for catching of criminals...

naptu2: 1) It's probably bulk sms.

2) They got his name from the sim registration exercise. This was one of my complaints against the exercise, how do you ensure that the information is not misused and that your privacy is protected.

3) I often get text messages, addressed to me by name, from my service providers (especially when they want to apologise for poor network services).

If airtel is sued wont the same pdp pervert justice....do you think its wise to do so??

afam4eva: They probably paid Airtel to customize the text messages. I think that's an invasion of privacy and Airtel should be sued.

If other operators could do the same then we are truly in trouble for releasing all our information to them in the name of sim registration

I went to visit someone in Edo State to arrange for a golf tournament just before the presidential visit to Benin over the PDP rally last saturday..I hate Politics but in as much as i do, there is nothing i can do but to follow the trends..Was with a friend when a text message was alerted on his mobile phone..He opened it and guess the message he saw
the PDP gubernatorial candidate Gen Charles Airhiavbere sent him a direct text urging him to vote for him...It reads...Hello Dr Osaigbovo Peters..Im your friend Gen.Charles Airhiavbere.the only one you can trust to deliver Edo State from the shackles of kidnap,looting,infrastructural decay and the likes...Vote for me and i will see all your dreams come true....Now the guy was shocked his name was mentioned in the text cos he never knew or met the man one on one..How did Gen.Charles got his airtel number to send him such a text and he must have sent it to thousands also..Now why are our network operators releasing peoples secret information to politians especially PDP...Just curious

well said....so the old timers are winning...

Chanchit: Shina peters
chief osadebe
and the oriental brothers, for me r still better than their vs, but i fink d remaing new generation artists r also better than their vs
As for 9ice and sunny okosun, sunny okosun seems to have a slight edge, cos people still request for his songs on radio, and same might not apply for 9ice in d nxt 10-15 yrs....

stop the bashing...do you expect her to be fat? she is someones grandma..a popular figure for that matter...how many of us here saw our grandma? be constructive and dont attract curse to yourself...

sholay2011: Eeehhhyahhh...RIP grandma...bur d woman looks kinda malnourished or smth...IMO...is she an HIV patient? and d woman black wella oh...kai! Rihanna...bokorihanna...

This wanna make me cry..Never knew as crazy as she appear..she still remembers home..wow this girl is really down to earth...Im impressed...wont follow what the media say about her anymore.....Im proud...I sympathise with her

choosing the old ones over the new ones...old time musicians makes more sense than recent ones..prove me wrong

Help me compare these musicians and choose who is better

Timaya vs Sunny Okosun

Christy Essien Igbokwe vs Tiwa Savage

Alex O vs M I

Shina Peters vs Nice

Chief Steven Osita Osadebe vs Flavour

Oriental Brothers vs MAVIN Records

And the winners are......

If he is nobody then nobody will talk about him...lol

Imanuelle: DAVIDO...
Started wit flaunting pix of him and a chic on a bed..
Den arrogant and bounced out of a club..
Flaunted 10m cheque on twitter...
Arrogant and got a deserving slap...
Bounced out of another club...

He even makes me hate mtn pulse!!
He's such a brat!

Suprised at the response so far...Pathetic

na today?

lol...even that dont happen in America...you speak like a kid...something you watched on movie and you want to bring it to reality.....stay front and ill be at your back.....lol

gbogboti: Christians, let's form our own deadly group or whatever. I am very ready for it. If the Nigerian government want to win the war against terrorism, they should go watch the film sleeper cell. America had to use and insider to counter a deadly attack on a base ball pich with close to a hundred thousand spectators. @all u need to watch that film

shut up son...

Billyonaire: I was a fan of Oshiomole in his days in the NLC, I want the best man to win, but for an unelected Oba to take sides in Politics automatically vetoes all other candidates, meaning, if another candidate wins, the loyalty of state is divided. All these so called royal figures and ancient Obas have no values in scheme of things, you hardly hear of them helping in fighting corruption or kidnapping, but during elections after exchange of millions, you see the potbellied figures coming out to take sides. Its a shame on democracy....

Mandelaguy: Who cares what the monarch said,it is Edo people's problem and decision to make,that is the beauty of democracy.

Respect please or you wont get to their age..words of elders are words of wisdom...Not sure you have been to beninso stfu

Please does anyone know where we are heading to....Express your optimism and pessimism here..I believe this country will someday make it..what do you believe?

Please who is Mukina2..a moderator or an advertiser?....issues full ground for naija...wetin u post for here?

@NL Mods..sometimes you guys can be funny posting sh1t here,,,check the link and youll see its from ghana.....na waoo

you wan chop the sh1t?

antitpiah: I am not impressed. Gimme a pix of Rochas taking a sh1t . . . and I will be a believer.

who is your governor...go lick shit abeg

Balyz: It's a political gimmick

[quote author=mikey2fin]Why does this has to make Headline? Is he the only person in Nigeria to buy Corn? Get a life People[/quote

just wish to be him...if wishes were horses then beggers would ride

Danjuma is the current President of Libya

A A Adam: Who is that Danjuma?

lari03: Care to explain the bold emphasis, I totally agree with you on how morals and values are gradually eroding from the fabric of the minds of most young people.

I met a girl sometime ago and ask her if she is on facebook...she said no..wow!!..i asked for her phone number..she brought out an old nokia phone..gave her number out to me...then i left...called her two days later she said she is at work...i asked where do you work..she said im a computer scientist and a lecturer..wow..i asked her age...she quoted 3 years back my age...are you married ..she said no...i picked up interest...we are good friends now and im planning to get her to be mine..im still scared cos thats what im looking for....educated but without the modern day swag...we are just old school...lol...

Thank you very much

SunnyChus: Building and maintaining a healthy marriage is not that easy. It needs a lot of efforts and enough time. Both the partners should equally take efforts to make their marital relationship enjoyable and comfortable.Marriage is a very precious and important commitment.However, only living together is not a sign of successful marriage.Successful marriage means commitment, caring and tolerance for each other. It is responsibility of both partners to make their marital relation healthy and cheerful.You can make your marriage a healthy and successful affair for years.

we are trying to be like the west...no moral uprightness anymore...the e- era has finished us...you need to see what the youths are doing with the so called phones and all...snapping..filming themselves while making love...spreading it all over the place...when you raise up the issue youll be attacked...you see people telling you..you are achaic ...i wish we could go back to our root where respect is paramount...no girl wants to live with a farmer but thats the real thing....i will never marry a modern day girl...i think a girl of my age will be better....lol

I BEG GO LOOK BUSH....LOVE KO LOVE NI...YOU TURNED DOWN PEOPLE THAT TEND TO GIVE YOU TRUE LOVE.....SEE NO COME HERE AGAIN COME POST RUBBISH

Austindark: 40 years ago i would say true, but presently the opposite applies.

just try to think of that which made companies to relocate from naija to ghana and dat will drive home my points.

my 2 kobo anyway!

Please name few relocated companies to ghana that made them better..im trying to drive home your points....just forget our trying times now...what made ghana better?

Nigeria is a bad country yet these whites keep launching gadgets in it...and making their money..we are really fools..now i know...SMFH

What a confusing profile....arrest Boko Haram and deal with the unrest in the south south...GEJ just employed the services of someone that will eventually push him away..lets watch as the events unfold.....

Jackson was the world greatest entertainer and yet still is..he has no match till date..R.I.P Michael...youll be remembered all the time...i still watch your videos and concerts till date...and it reminds me of so many things...you put smile in peoples face and thats what matters in life...