Why $620,000 bribery scandal probe is stalled — Police

by Niyi Odebode, Abuja 

The police on Monday said they would ensure a thorough investigation of the $620,000 bribery scandal involving the former chairman of the House of Representatives on Fuel Subsidy, Mr. Farouk Lawan.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Mr. Frank Mba, in a telephone interview with in our correspondent in Abuja, explained why the police had not concluded the investigation a month after it began.

“We do not want to conduct hurried investigation that will not help the course of justice. We will ensure a thorough investigation,” he said.

He stated that the investigation would be conducted in a way that would ensure justice.

Mba dismissed a claim that the police would hand over the case to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.

He said, “I don’t know where people got that information from. It is not fundamental to our investigation.”

The DFPPRO said the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba, who was interrogated by the Police Special Task Force on Tuesday, gave information that would assist in the investigation.

Jagaba had denied collecting the $620,000 bribe money from Lawan.

Also at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, he threatened to sue Lawan over his statement that he (Lawan) gave him the money.

Mba declined to comment on whether other members of the fuel subsidy committee would be invited but said the STF would soon round off its investigation.

He said, “It is difficult to put a time frame on it (when the investigation will be concluded). What I can assure you is that we will always balance what we give the media with what can assist the course of justice.”

Our correspondents learnt that members of the Lawan-led committee would be invited by the STF this week.

It was learnt that after the interrogation of the committee members, Lawan and the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola, might be invited again.

Investigations showed that the State Security Service would this week, hand over the original copy of video containing what transpired between Otedola and Lawan to the police.