Hon. Farouk Lawan



By Davidson Iriekpen

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to immediately charge of the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan and Boniface Emeluno to court to fraud.

Falana in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, wondered why the duo have not be charged to  court in spite of the confessional statement they made.
He said Nigerians should not be deceived by the impression that there is no evidence to try criminal suspects who have made confessional statement.

The human rights activist said having undertaken to make the fight against corruption part of its transformation agenda, the Goodluck Jonathan administration should direct the anti-graft agencies to bring to book all those who have been indicted in the various probes on the fuel subsidy.

“On its own part the Police concluded the  investigation into the matter and reportedly forwarded the case file to the office of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

“Even though Chief Adegboyega Awomolo was reported to have appointed by the Attorney-General to prosecute the suspects  no reason has been adduced why they have not been arraigned in court.

“But a few months after the $620,000 bribery scandal broke out two other members of the House, Hon. Herman Hembe and Hon. Chris Azubogu who were alleged to have diverted the  sum of $4,095 (less than N5m) illegally collected from the Nigerian Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) were promptly  charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Since what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander Messrs Lawan and  Emenulo should  should be charged to court  without any further delay.  Mr. Femi Otedola should also be arraigned in court for paying who  bribe the two legislators to delist his indicted companies.”