The alleged $620,000.00 bribe money received by Hon. Farouk Lawan from oil mogul, Femi Otedola of Zenon Oil has now developed wings and can no longer be traced for investigation.
Lawan who collected the bribe money claimed he gave them to Hon. Adams Jagaba, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotica and Financial Crimes. But Jaagaba denied ever receiving such sums in a letter he wrote to the Inspector General of Police.
Jagaba said in his letter to the police said: “I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 or any other exhibits (in my personal capacity or official capacity as Chairman, House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial
Crimes) relating to the subject matter of the above investigation.
“I hope this explanation lays to rest once and for all the claims that I or my committee is in possession of the sum of $620,000 purportedly given as bribe to the Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime.”
Pointblanknews.com has learnt that the inability of investigators to trace the whereabouts of the bribe cash may have dealt a big blow in the investigation being carried out by the Special Task Force, STF, headed by Mr. Ali Amodu
Sources within security circles also hinted that the State Security Services, SSS, have been foot dragging on the investigation because the circumstances that led to them getting involved in the whole bribe saga was not officially approved.
A criminal Lawyer who would not want his name in print told Pointblanknews.com that without the bribe cash, the case is as good as dead since the money represents the major evidence to prove the case of bribery.
“Without the money, the case of bribery will be difficult. Until they bring the money wherever it is, we might be seeing the end of the Lawangate,” the Lawyer said in a telephone chat with Pointblanknews.com.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that it is part of Lawan’s plan to frustrate the on-going investigation by refusing to tender the marked bribe money for fear of being convicted with it.
The sources hinted that since Jagaba denied ever receiving the bribe sum from Lawan, after a tensed session with the STF last week, Lawan promised to surrender the $620,000.00 bribe money before the end of the week.
Again, he failed.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Lawan is particularly pained that all his strategies aimed at exonerating himself from the bribery allegations have all crumbled.
Sources hinted that he had solicited help from the Northern Caucus of the House and the Integrity Group, which he championed but none seem to be ready to render any help to him.
“As it stands now, Lawan can only decide to keep the money and frustrate the investigation. That is the only game plan he has because none of his friends are ready or willing to sink with him,” a source in the House of Representatives who is not authorized to speak on the matter told Pointblanknews.com.
A source in the Police told Pointblanknews.com that if the bribe money is not found it will be hard for the police to continue in the investigation.