Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on anti-graft agencies to arrest and prosecute chairman House Committee on Fuel Subsidy Farouk Lawan over his alleged role in collection of $600,000 from Femi Otedola in the course of the committee's assignment. Speaking on a Lagos television programme yesterday, Falana said Lawan should be prosecuted just the way Herman Hembe, another Reps member who allegedly compromised his position as chairman of the House Committee probing the crash of the Nigerian Stock Exchange was docked for collecting bribe from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director General, Arumna Oteh. Falana said corrupt leaders should be isolated and prosecuted.
He said the prosecution of Lawan would not in any way affect the credibility of report of his committee on the oil subsidy scam. Falana said since there are reports that there are ample evidence that Lawan allegedly collected the bribe, security agencies should fast track the investigation in order to get to the root of the scandal.
He said:"we are running a system premised on primitive accumulation of wealth, which is fuelling corruption," he said, adding that "for the ruling class, it is business as usual."
Otedola, who also indicted the secretary of the probe committee, Boniface Emenalo, said Lawan had collected $620,000 from him as part of the $3 million he allegedly demanded from him to influence the report of the probe in Otedola's favour.
Daily Trust