Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba, had on Thursday threatened to sue Mr. Farouk Lawan for allegedly involving him in the ongoing $620,000 bribery allegation.
Denying the allegation while addressing newsmen shortly after he was been quizzed by the police on Thursday, the lawmaker from Kaduna warned that if Mr. Lawan continues to allege that he was part of the bribe game, he would have no other option but to file a lawsuit against him.
He said, “I cannot and shall never be involved in an individualistic act that runs antithetical to national interest.
“Lawan should stop this blackmail forthwith or else, I will have no option but to take the appropriate legal action against him and to seek compensation befitting my status.“Enough is enough.”
Lawan who admitted collecting money from Mr. Otedola as bribe, said he did that in an attempt to expose Otedola, and such wrote to Jagaba over the matter. Jagaba has however denied having any knowledge of the said bribe money, claiming that no letter was received by himself or his committee on the matter.
He said because Lawan had been “rattled” and “confused” by the scandal, he wrote a letter at 3.47am but “forgot to deliver the letter to the intended recipient (Jagaba)”.
Jagaba said Lawan “chose to give it to a newspaper reporter and the Police Special Task Force” instead.
He further noted that he only saw the newspaper when it was published by the leadership newspaper of June 14th.
He also said on July 11 the STF arranged a meeting between him and Lawan between 3pm and 4pm.
He said, “In his opening remarks, (Lawan) stated that he reported the matter to me because of my position as the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes and not because I was involved in the bribery saga.
“He also told the police that he involved me in the matter because he thinks that that would enhance his case in court.
“We faced each other before the STF. I then put the question: ‘Hon. Farouk, did you give me $500,000 or any money for that matter?’
“This was a question the outspoken Farouk could not answer. He kept mum till I left.”
Jagaba had commended the STF for the professional manner with which he was handled in relation to the interrogation.
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