Adamu Muhammad Nababa
Hon. Faruk Lawan was a shining star in Nigeria’s National Assembly from 1999 when democratic governance was restored by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd.).
Lawan was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State.
Having been elected four times—in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011—his fourth tenure established him as a familiar face in the lower chamber, with great promise and political prospects.
However, it also brought him face-to-face with the murky waters of Nigerian politics, rife with backstabbing and intrigue.
Faruk Lawan not only delivered a sterling performance as an eloquent and vocal member of the House of Representatives but he was also seen as one of the most credible lawmakers.
Alongside other like-minded members of the House, Lawan consistently stood up to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, giving him a run for his money.
The former President had wielded immense power over Nigeria’s political landscape, but Lawan and his colleagues thwarted Obasanjo’s infamous third-term bid in 2007.
At one point, the Integrity Group, which Lawan founded, supported then-Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, in relentlessly combating the excesses and corrupt tendencies of the Obasanjo administration.
Therefore, it was least expected that Hon. Lawan, a figure once celebrated for exposing corruption, would face charges and ultimately be convicted of corruption.
Lawan was instrumental in exposing damaging evidence of bribery during the Obasanjo administration, a stance that earned him widespread respect.
In 2012, during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, allegations of oil subsidy fraud reached alarming levels.
On merit, Hon. Lawan was appointed chairman of an ad-hoc committee to investigate these allegations against powerful oil magnates and government officials.
However, during the investigation, Chief Femi Otedola, whose company, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd., was being probed, managed to secretly videotape Lawan accepting a bribe of $500,000.
This accusation led to a highly publicized court case. Despite fighting the charges up to the Supreme Court, Lawan was eventually convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison, later reduced to five.
He served his sentence largely in silence until his release on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Upon his release, Lawan expressed gratitude and optimism in a statement: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre with a heart full of gratitude to Allah (SWT) for seeing me through this trial. I am deeply thankful to be alive, in good health, and in high spirits, reunited with my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”
What more could he ask for? He is free and has an opportunity to rebuild his life. What matters now is moving forward and embracing what the law permits him to do—a lesson for all.
Questions that linger
What exactly happened to Hon. Faruk Lawan? How did it happen? Why? And what comes next? These questions will continue to arise, as people recount their own versions of events while Lawan shares his.
This case also raises broader concerns: Is Nigeria truly making progress in its fight against corruption? How many more individuals must face justice to change the narrative? Are cases of corruption being prosecuted to their logical conclusions, or are we witnessing an era where corrupt practices are increasingly shielded from accountability?
Hon. Faruk Lawan’s story is not just about his rise and fall but also serves as a lens through which to view the state of governance and accountability in Nigeria.
_Nababa is a Co-founder and Managing Editor of Nigerian Track Magazine. He can be reached at mnababaadamu@gmail.com._