Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on fuel subsidy management probe, Hon. Farouk Lawan has denied the purported video evidence showing him collecting bribe from an oil marketer.
The video evidence which was shown at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly to other lawmakers was denied by the Leader of the subsidy probe panel saying it was doctored.
The committee had earlier discovered during its investigation that some oil marketers otherwise known as subsidy thieves had stolen about N1.7trillion from the government which has direct consequence of malpractices in the oil sector.
The committee has in itself been embroiled in bribing scandal for more than a week now.
The video evidence of the bribe deal between the oil marketer and Lawan is currently with the State Security Services (SSS) for further investigation and interrogation.
In his response, the once leader of the Integrity Group at the Lower Chamber said the allegation of him receiving the sum of 600,000 US dollars from an oil marketer in order to influence the panel report in favour of the marketer is not only untrue but also a ploy to divert and distract the attention of the House and the general public from the recommendations and report of the probe panel.
Lawan’s denial countered an interview granted by the Chairman of Zenon Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, who confirmed that Lawan sought and indeed, got the bribe from his company.