Lagos fiery lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo has entered a 4-count criminal charge against the erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawal for allegedly collecting the sum of $3million as bribe from oil mogul, Mr Femi Otedola.
Keyamo had issued a one week ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police for the prosecution of Hon. Lawan but the ultimatum was never heeded by the police authority.
Also joined as the 2nd accused person in the charge which was filed before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was former Secretary of the fuel subsidy probe Committee, Mr Boniface Emenalo.
Keyamo maintained that the proof of evidence adduced against the two lawmakers over the alleged role they played in the cash-for-clearance scandal, indicted them to acts of criminal conspiracy, gratification and criminal intimidation contrary to sections 96 and 396 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of FCT, as well as, Section 12(1) (a-b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, Cap C31, LFN 2004.
According to him, their offence is punishable under section 97 and 387of the two aforementioned Acts, respectively.
Meantime, in view of the seeming unwillingness on the part of both the Police authorities and the Federal Government to prosecute the case, Keyamo, has given the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, a 6-days ultimatum to either okay the already drafted charge or hands-off the matter to enable him as a private prosecutor to conduct the trial.
In a letter he sent to the AGF alongside a copy of the charge he personally drafted against Farouk and Emenalo, Keyamo, insisted that Adoke, SAN, must “indicate whether he is prepared to prosecute or not,” on or before the close of official business on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, “to enable me determine my next line of action,” he added.
The letter read: “My name is Festus Keyamo. I am a Nigerian citizen, legal practitioner, senior member of the Nigerian Bar, private prosecutor, social crusader and critic.