Media sources have reported that Farouk Lawan and Boniface Enemalo,
the two men remanded in Prison for allegedly soliciting for and
obtaining $620,000 bribe are being kept in a “choice cell” befitting
their status as “Very Important Personalities”.
Lawan, the former former Chairman of
the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy and
Enemalo, former Secretary of the committee were remanded in prison by an
Abuja High Court on Friday 1st February 2013. They were arraigned on a
seven count charge for allegedly soliciting for and collecting a bribe
of $620, 000 from Femi Otedola, Chairman of Zenon Oil.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the
allegation, claiming they collected the money in order to expose
Otedola’s attempt to bribe them.
According to Punch,
Lawan and Emenalo were kept in the same cell, but they have said they
will not eat the general food cooked in the facility and have made
arrangements to have their food brought to them from home by their
family members.
Here is an excerpt of the report:
It was learnt that Lawan had remained reserved and withdrawn on being booked into the prison by officials.
Our correspondent
gathered that his relations were making plans to reach an understanding
with the management of the prison to allow them bring in a new mattress
for the lawmaker.
Findings indicated
that when Lawan and Boniface Emenalo got to the prison facility, the
atmosphere changed as the inmates on hearing about the calibre of the
new detainees, were happy that their living condition would change
during the stay of the lawmakers.
The prison
authorities are not according them any special privilege, but being a
lawmaker, Lawan cannot be treated like a common criminal because of his
status, and besides, they have not been convicted yet.
They are to remain at the Kuje Prison
till Friday 8th February 2013 when the court will determine whether to
grant or refuse their bail application.
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