The House of Representatives yesterday declared the $620,000 bribery scandal which one of its members, Farouk Lawan grapples with as “over –flogged.”
Responding to questions from newsmen on the protracted release of the House in-house probe of the bribery plot, the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affair, Victor Ogene directed persons inquiring on the matter to approach relevant agencies since the matter had since been tagged “a criminal matter.”
LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that for lack of evidence, the House of Representatives was set to exonerate the embattled Lawan from the $620,000 cash-for-clearance allegation leveled against him by billionaire oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola.
Ogene had told newsmen that the report of the Ethics and Privileges Committee as it concerned Farouk Lawan was ready and remained “a question of scheduling.”
He said on yesterday, “This issue (Farouk Lawan) has been talked about if not over-flogged. I still stand by what I told you last, the committee is through with its work. A lot of people have said that it is a criminal matter so if it is important to you, you know the relevant agencies to ask about criminal issues. But as a House, I know that even before referring that matter to the ethics committee, you know that the House had gone ahead to take steps that we applauded.
In July, Otedola, who was supposed to testify on his bribery allegations against the former chairman of Subsidy Probe Committee, Farouk Lawan, insisted that he will only give evidence in public.