A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting him a presidential pardon.
Tinubu, on Thursday, approved clemency for Lawan and several others who had previously been convicted of various offences.
Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, was accused in 2012 of demanding a $3 million bribe from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of oil firms implicated in the fuel subsidy fraud.
He was arraigned on seven counts of bribery by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and, in June 2021, convicted on three counts by a FCT High Court in Apo, which sentenced him to seven years in prison.
The Court of Appeal later reduced the sentence to five years, and the Supreme Court, in January 2024, upheld that verdict. Lawan was released in October 2024 after completing his jail term.
In a statement, the former lawmaker described Tinubu’s gesture as an act of compassion that had “renewed his hope” and given him a fresh sense of purpose.
“Mr President has cast a warm blanket over me, pulling me back from the harshness of yesterday’s cold. A day like this is not for a long treatise.
“I lie prostrate, utterly humble in my heart and entire being, grateful for the mercy which Allah (SWT), through Mr President and my country, has shown me.
“During the eclipse at noon of my life — a path designed by destiny, a past with which I am fully reconciled — my family, friends and associates stood by me through thick and thin. Their light became my singular unfailing beacon. I remain eternally indebted to you. May Allah (SWT) recompense you.
“Throughout those moments of sober reflection, my faith in the greatness of our Fatherland never wavered, nor did my resolve to contribute to it ever weaken. A re-dedication to the ideals of Nigeria is upon me. My hope is renewed.
“My family and I, along with my friends and associates in Kano State and across Nigeria, are indescribably grateful to Mr President for drafting me back into active citizenship with its unavoidable service imperative,” he said.
Lawan’s pardon removes a major legal and reputational burden, potentially paving the way for his return to public life or politics.