A former Chairman of the House of
Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime and its
ex-Secretary, Farouk Lawan, and Boniface Emenalo, were re-arraigned
yesterday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in
Gudu, Abuja.
They are facing a seven-count charge for
allegedly receiving $620,000 bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Oil and
Gas, Mr Femi Otedola.
The two allegedly took the bribe to
exclude the names of Otedola’s companies – Zenon Petroleum and Gas as
well as Synopsis Enterprises Limited – from the list of companies said
to have defrauded the Federal Government of billions of naira.
The accused were earlier arraigned on
the same charge before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi (formerly of the FCT
High Court, Maitama) before his elevation to the Court of Appeal some
months ago.
Justice Oniyangi’s elevation led to the
transfer of the case to a new judge – Justice Adebukola Banjoko – before
whom the accused took their fresh pleas yesterday.
When the case was called, lead
prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the court that the
accused were to plead to the charge afresh.
When the judge asked if there was any
application pending at the Court of Appeal on the matter, Awomolo
answered in the negative. The lead defence lawyer, O. Jolaawo, confirmed
same.
After listening to the charge, Lawan and Emenalo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Jolaawo later applied to the court to
enable the accused continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by
the former trial judge. Awomolo did not object to the application.
Justice Banjoko, however, insisted on
sighting the three men, who stood surety for the accused, before the
earlier bail was granted, to know if they were willing to remain the
sureties.
The case was stood down on that note to allow the sureties, who were not in court, to physically appear in court.
About an hour later, the proceedings
resumed, following the arrival of the three sureties in court. Justice
Banjoko asked them if they were willing to remain sureties for the
accused, and they affirmed.
The judge ordered Lawan and Emenalo to
remain on the earlier bail granted by Justice Oniyangi and adjourned
till July 7 for further hearing.
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