The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba, has disowned the Chairman of the ad hoc committee that probed the petroleum subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, saying the embattled lawmaker did not hand over to him the $620,000 bribe money given to him by oil magnate and Chairman of Zenon Oil, Femi Otedola.
In response to a letter by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, seeking the release of the money, which Lawan claimed he handed over him, Jagaba said he was never in possession of the money.
He 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.
“I hope this explanation lay to rest once and for all the claims that I or my committee is in possession of the sum of $620,000 USD purportedly given as bribe to the adhoc committee on monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.”
Tambuwal had written Jagaba seeking for the release of the money, based on a request by the police.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the case, Ali Amodu, in a letter to Tambuwal, had pleaded with the speaker to help facilitate the return of the money, which Lawan was quoted to have told the police was with Jagaba.