$3m subsidy bribe: FG files for extension of time

Federal Government in a matter brought before Justice Angela Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Lugbe, Abuja, against Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives, has filed for an extension of time to make payments on some documents entered as exhibits in the prosecution of charges of bribery.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had filed an amended three-count charge against the former House of Representatives member over allegations of bribery.

He was earlier in 2012 arraigned before Justice Oniyangi who was promoted to the Court of Appeal, before the matter was later reassigned to Justice Bolajoko, another FCT High Court judge, who later withdrew herself from the matter, following a petition by the defendant.

At the resumption of trial, prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, informed the court about the inability to make payments for documents the court earlier admitted in evidence, having approached the National Assembly as regards the payment to which he said it was not subject to issuing receipt and receiving payments for such.

Awomolo said he also approached the Accountant General of the Federation, but said “he doesn’t have any issuance of receipt pertaining to that,” as such, the counsel sought the court if it could pay through the cashier of the judiciary.

The documents are an order paper, votes and proceedings for the special session sitting of the House on January 8, 2012, April 18, 2012, April 24, 2012, as well as report of the ad-hoc committee to be referred and determine the actual subsidy requirements and monitor the implementation of the subsidy regime in Nigeria resolution NO HR.1/2012.

The defence counsel, Secko Zumka, however opposed the application insisting that the court was not the issuer nor certifier of the certified documents, as such the court cannot issue any receipt to a duly certified document as provided by Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

The court however opined that there were heads of revenues in government institutions that could issue receipt and receive payments, stating that Section 146 (1) of the Evidence Act provided the insufficiency as the documents were substantially informed as being Certified True Copy, averring that the matter should be allowed to move on.

The trial judge thereafter adjourned the matter to March 7 and 8, for definite hearing.

In the amended three-count charge filed against Farouk Lawan, the ICPC alleged that he demanded the sum of $3 million from Femi Otedola, and received the sum of $500,000 as bribe sometime in 2012.

SEYI ANJORIN