Billionaire oil and gas businessman, Femi Otedola, has revealed that he received the $500,000 used to bribe a former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, from the Department of State Security (DSS).
Mr Otedola revealed this as a prosecution witness in Mr Lawan’s trial at the Apo Division of the FCT High Court on Monday during cross-examination by defence counsel, Mike Ozekhome.
Responding to a question from Mr Ozekhome about the source of the money allegedly given to Lawan, Otedola said: “It was handed over to me by the DSS.”
Lawan is facing trial for allegedly attempting to receive $3 million from the witness while he chaired a committee of the House of Representatives in 2012 which was investigating billions spent fraudulently on petrol subsidy and the beneficiary companies.
Otedola had accused Lawan of blackmailing him with a request of $3 million to clear his company from the investigation.
The businessman added that he was given money after he reported Lawan to the SSS in a petition.
Otedola further said that the camera used in capturing the disbursement of the bribe to Lawan was removed shortly after the defendant left with the money.
