NEW YORK SHARES

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
LAGOS — Farouk Lawan who is at the centre of the $3 million bribery scandal in the House of Representatives, yesterday revealed in Abuja, that he reported the bribe to law enforcement agents as far back as April 24.

Documents released by National Assembly sources to the media, yesterday, showed that Lawan reportedly intimated the House Committee on Financial Crimes in a letter dated April 24, 2012, of pressures to offer him bribe to influence the outcome of the investigation into the fuel subsidy scheme.

In a letter to the leadership of the House, Lawan also said his “life has been under constant threat since the fuel probe begun.”

Hon. Lawan reported the bribe to the police following which the Inspector-General in a letter dated, May 9, 2012, directed a task force on investigation to meet him.

The IGP in the letter with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 called Lawan’s attention to an interview he granted a national newspaper on April 28, 2012 and directed, “a discreet investigation into the matter.”

The letter was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu.

He said that in another letter dated May 16, 2012 with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/319, and signed by Amodu, the IGP requested money exhibit, names of witnesses and other material evidence from him.

Hon. Lawan explained that in a letter dated May 31, 2012, he told the IGP that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative actions.

After the correspondence between the IGP and Hon. Farouk, the IGP in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter.

In the letter titled, “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.”

Mr. Otedola, had in an interview with a national newspaper, yesterday alleged that Hon. Farouk and the Secretary of the Committee, Boniface Emenalo, had collected a total $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.

He said that during the probe, Zenon told the committee that it had nothing to do with the subsidy regime because it was not importing petrol, which is being subsidized but that Hon. Farouk insisted on being bribed to leave his company’s name out of the report which prompted him to offer him marked currency notes.