The Federal Government yesterday rearraigned former Chairman of House
of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, Hon.
Farouk Lawan and its ex-Secretary, Boniface Emenalo, before an Abuja
high court sitting in Gudu.
The trial commenced de novo (all over) yesterday before Justice
Adebukola Banjoko of the Abuja high court following the elevation of
Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi to the Appeal Court bench.
Justice Oniyangi was the trial judge earlier assigned to hear the case
The rules of court provide that when a judge who is already seized of
the facts of a case is unable to continue with the trial owing to
factors, including transfer or elevation, the case has to start de
novo before a new judge.
The Federal Government, which hired an Abuja based member of the inner
bar, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), to prosecute the lawmakers
yesterday got the nod of the high court to slam the old sevencount
charge bordering on bribery and abuse of office against them.
The lawmakers were accused of receiving $620,000 bribe from the
Chairman, Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola.
The bribe, it was further alleged, was to ostensibly exclude the names
of Otedola’s companies – Zenon Petroleum and Gas and Synopsis
Enterprises Limited – from the list of companies found to have
allegedly defrauded the Federal Government through fraudulent
petroleum products importation transactions.
When the case was called yesterday, lead prosecution lawyer, Awomolo
(SAN) informed the court that the business of the day was for the
accused persons to plead to the charge afresh.
Upon listening to the charge, read to them by an official of the
court, Lawan and Emenalo pleaded not guilty.
Jolaawo later applied to the court to allow the accused persons
continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by the former trial
The prosecution lawyer did not object to the application.
The judge, however, insisted on sighting the three men, who stood
surety for the accused persons before the earlier bail was granted, to
know if they were still willing to remain sureties.
The case was then stood down to allow the sureties, who were not in
court, to physically appear.
