OTEDOLA APPEARS IN COURT, INSISTS FAROUK LAWAN DEMANDED $3 MILLION BRIBE OVER FUEL SUBSIDY

The star prosecution witness entered the witness box after he was introduced by the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, and shortly after, the prosecution played a video where Lawan was seen receiving $500 000 from Otedola.

Penpushing reports that, Odetola while addressing the court narrated events of the video, recalling that the accused (Lawan) had indicted his company in the alleged fraud and demanded $3 million to exonerate him.

The witness added that after the initial deposit of $500,000 was paid into Lawan account and thereafter declared Zenon Oil and Gas free of the initial indictment,stating further that,“after the early hours of 24th April 2012: (the time the money was paid) he left and removed the name of Zenon from the list of indicted companies’

Penpushing reports that, when Otedola  was  asked by the prosecution counsel about the claim by Lawan that he(Otedola)  forced him to take the money, he promptly denied it,arguing that, “I could not have put pressure on him because Zenon Oil was not involved in the theft of the subsidy fund’.

“He did demand. And if he did not demand, why will he collect and expect a balance of $2.5 million? He mentioned to me that the $3 million will be shared by himself and some other members of the House,”,Otedola told the court. Moreover, the company in question was not involved in the importation of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) and as such never applied to withdraw from the petroleum fund.”

Penpushing also reports that,the witness denied an allegation by Lawan that he (Otedola) offered to pay the money so that his name would be removed from the list of indicted companies,and also also denied a claim by  Lawan that Zenon Oil and Gas was exonerated on the basis of documents later provided by the company.

His words, “I did not offer any $3 million, because I was one of the biggest players in the business. And I reported the matter initially when I found out about the scam. And he mentioned to me that several companies that were involved in the scam were paying. And I reported to the SSS.”

 “It was the money because during the course of the sitting of the subcommittee we had submitted all the documents.”

He also told the court that  his report to security operatives on the matter prompted investigations into the allegations by the police who invited him for questioning after which his statement was taken.

Penpushing also reports that,the lawyer said he was sick and could not proceed with the cross-examination at the day’s sitting. The judge, Angela Otaluka, adjourned the matter to January 28 for cross-examination,and  added that the defence should prepare itself to start and finish the cross-examination on the next adjourned date.