By Akeem Oduyoye
The apex court, Supreme Court on Friday gave real reason why it upheld the five-year jail term handed to a former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan by the Court of Appeal, saying the defence of the lawmaker lacked merit and it has no option but to sanctioned it.
Recall thatLawan was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel affirmed the 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld Lawan’s sentencing to five years in respect of only count three on the three-count charge on which he was tried at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro, but read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the count found that Lawan’s appeal was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.