[size=14pt]Fuel Subsidy Probe: Otedola Confirms Bribe to Lawmakers[/size]
11 Jun 2012
By Yemi Ajayi in Lagos, Ike Abonyi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

•SSS sends videotape to EFCC

The full details of the $3 million bribery scandal involving members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Fuel Subsidy probe were revealed yesterday, as one of the major actors in the scandal has opened up on what transpired.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, who hitherto was suspected of being behind the $3 million bribery scandal, blew the lid on what transpired and how chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Farouk Lawan, and the secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.

The amount was part payment for the $3 million, which he alleged Lawan had demanded from him to exonerate Zenon Oil from the ad-hoc committee’s report.

As the scandal unfolds, it was learnt that operatives of the State Security Services have sent a video recording of the incident to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further scrutiny and action.

Otedola, who was opening up on the issue for the first time, narrated how Lawan at the outset of the probe had approached him to get some insight into the workings of the downstream oil and gas sector.

Otedola said he obliged him and ensured that his managing directors of Forte Oil Plc and Zenon Oil appeared at the subsidy probe during its public hearing after both companies had been invited by the committee.

During the probe, he said the committee was informed in no uncertain terms that Zenon does not and has never made claims for subsidy payments from the federal government, as the company was engaged solely in the importation of diesel, a product that is not subsidised.
Zenon’s managing director, Mr. Kanmi Kareem Otaru, during the probe had denied that the company had anything to do with the subsidy regime. He told the committee, “For the avoidance of doubt Zenon never participated or benefited from the subsidy scheme or Petroleum Support Fund (PSF).”

According to him, going by the Act which established the PSF scheme, “Zenon couldn’t participate in it because we don’t have a network of PMS retail outlets which was one of the key criteria beneficiaries must meet and as such we are not qualified to participate to draw from subsidy payments on PMS. So we never collected as records will show.”

Irrespective of the clarification made at the hearing, Otedola said Lawan still approached him a few days before the report was to be tabled on April 18, 2012 before the House of Representatives, demanding money so that Zenon’s name will be kept out of the report.
“When this happened, I was very angry and reminded him that Zenon has never participated in the subsidy scheme and that it would be criminal to rope in the company for something it did not do.

“But Lawan responded, stating that several other marketers were playing ball and had offered the members of the committee large sums of money to ensure that their companies’ names were not published in the report,” he added.

Otedola, said initially he balked at Lawan’s attempt to extort money from him and told the legislator that he would not pay up, as Zenon had not committed any crime.

“Then a day before the report was to be submitted, Lawan called again, informing me that Zenon’s name had been included in the report.
“I, of course, was very angry and asked him to desist from his course of action, but Lawan insisted that I must pay up as other oil marketers had done before me.”

Otedola said he could not believe his eyes the next day when the report came out and Zenon’s name had been listed under the category of companies that had bought foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but had not imported petrol.

The amount ascribed to Zenon in the report was $232,975,385.13. The report had recommended that Zenon and 14 other marketers that had bought the foreign exchange be referred to the anti-corruption agencies to determine what they used the monies for.
Otedola said at this point he again called Lawan demanding that Zenon’s name be removed from the list, as there was no way his company could have bought that volume of foreign exchange without importing products.

“I reminded him that the amount ascribed to Zenon was wrong as what the company bought was over $400 million for importation of products through the banks – Zenith, UBA and GTB – and that under Sanusi (CBN governor) there was no way anyone could have bought that quantity of foreign exchange and not imported the products having filled the Form M.

“Sanusi will simply clamp down on anyone who tries to pull that kind of stunt,” he said.
In spite of this, Otedola said Lawan still demanded that the members of the committee be given money in exchange for removing Zenon’s name from the report before it is considered in plenary by the entire House.

Otedola said he then asked how much would be required to make the committee happy, to which Lawan responded $3 million.
“I screamed at him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. All he said was other marketers were paying up to keep their names out of the report so I should do likewise,” he said.

Otedola revealed that it was this point he decided to involve the security agencies to catch Lawan and his committee with their hands in the till.

According to him, “As a law-abiding citizen, I decided to involve the security agencies and they advised me to play along, which prompted me to offer to pay part of the money with the promise that I would pay the balance when my company’s name had been removed from the report."

The security agencies, he disclosed, gave him serialised dollar bills for the sting job and there are call logs, video and audio recordings in the possession of the agencies to confirm all that had transpired between himself and Lawan.

He said on April 21, the Saturday before the plenary, Lawan came in person to his residence and collected $250,000 in cash, as the first instalment, “then the next Monday night he came and collected another $250,000.

“On Tuesday, at 9am, just before the House commenced seating, Boniface came and collected another $120,000.”
Otedola confirmed that during the sting, Lawan and Boniface collected a total of $620,000 in three instalments as part of the $3 million demanded from him.

He added that with the $620,000 that had been extorted by Lawan and the committee, during the plenary, Zenon’s name was removed from the list of companies that had bought foreign exchange but did not import products.

Otedola continued: “He (Lawan) now asked for the balance of $2.5 million, but when I told him that I had no money now that the money was in Lagos, he suggested that I should charter a plane to fly the money from Lagos to Abuja.”

Otedola stressed that his decision to get the law enforcement and security agencies involved stemmed from the fact that he had not broken any law, maintaining that as a law-abiding citizen, he was saddened by the fact that he was being blackmailed by of all people, members of the legislature.

“If you have information that an armed robber is come to raid your home, won’t you notify the police? So, that was the purpose of the sting operation.

“Besides, my integrity is paramount to me. I started selling petroleum products 14 years ago in drums and somebody who has never run a petrol station is trying to blackmail and extort money from me.
“If others (marketers) have paid money, maybe they are guilty. But I did not do anything wrong, so why should they extort money from me? As a law-abiding citizen, I had to involve the security agencies. Indeed, I’m very disappointed because I have worked hard to build my business.”

Insisting that he had nothing to hide or fear over what had happened, Otedola maintained if he was in the wrong he would not have involved the security agencies in the first instance.

In a reference to the strong denials made by Lawan since the scandal became public, Otedola stated, “When he (Lawan) demanded the bribe, I called the agencies. That is because I had nothing to hide. When the bribe was paid, why did he not call and report it to the agencies if he had nothing to.”

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the videotape of the illicit transaction had been sent to the EFCC to investigate the incident.
When contacted, the EFCC, however, said it had neither received the videotape nor had it commenced investigations into the bribery scandal.

EFCC Head of the Media Unit, Mr. Wilson Uwugiaren, said the allegation had not been brought to the knowledge of the commission.
According to him, the only related matter currently being handled by the EFCC was the report of the ad-hoc committee that the commission was studying to establish the facts and track down anyone found culpable for the alleged mismanagement of the PSF.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fuel-subsidy-probe-otedola-confirms-bribe-to-lawmakers/117757/

The security agencies, he disclosed, gave him serialised dollar bills for the sting job and there are call logs, video and audio recordings in the possession of the agencies to confirm all that had transpired between himself and Lawan.

Intriguing! It looks like we've only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Farouks case seems much worse considering that Zenon does not benefit from the subsidy in any way. This is big.

These people are desperately trying to avoid prosecution. Both Farouk and Odetola and his other Marketer buddies, should be imprisoned if found guilty of any crime.

Leadership Newspaper April 28, 2012 headlines "Marketers Offered Subsidy Committee Plane-load Of Dollars. Notable quotes from the article:

(1) “There was this incident where a marketer offered some of our colleagues the opportunity to be partners in his business just for us to allow him get away with whatever his company had done.

(2)“There was another marketer who promised to fly in millions of dollars to share to members of the committee and other members of the House of Representatives.

(3)"It was also learnt that the indicted marketer sold the false story to some media houses, which carried negative reports on the activities of the panel.

(4)"Nigerians should not be surprised at the antics employed by some people to discredit the leadership and members of the House of Representatives. This is the first time this kind of investigation is being initiated into a very sensitive aspect of our national economy.

Here is the Source of the above quotes.

Isn't it interesting that events of April 28 seem to be recurring? Sooner or later, the real truth will come out. In the meantime, lets see the VIDEO.

^
Jail Otedola for calling the law? Why not ask that the SSS be jailed too? Olodo.

like i said in another thread, farouk lawan should be phucked by a mongrel dog and then hanged!
the midget was using the subsidy probe to fund his 2015 governiship aspirations!

Beaf: ^
Jail Otedola for calling the law? Why not ask that the SSS be jailed too? Olodo.

Can you read? abi you are now a blind bat? I maintain that anyone found guilty of any subsidy related crime including bribery should be imprisoned.

I no fit shout. Security agencies should thoroughly investigate this.

NASS committee members will never learn. We need to see the video?

torkaka: like i said in another thread, farouk lawan should be phucked by a mongrel dog and then hanged!
the midget was using the subsidy probe to fund his 2015 governiship aspirations!

otedola is not innocent either.

The video will clear the doubt,if indeed it exists.
Waiting. . . .

Hmnn

Wow wow wow!!! When it smells like sh.it, then it is definitely sh.it! Damn!

Otedola the paragon of truth?
Someone's having a laugh at the expense of Nigerians.

By all means jail Farouk Lawan if he is found guilty, but only after you've jailed Otedola for the crime of being the most lily-livered CEO of a multi-national corporation.
Here is someone who can afford some of the best legal birds (SANs) money can buy in Nigeria, with a direct link into the presidency, admitting to being cowed by some lowly placed ad hoc committee chairman.

On a side-note, it is good to see our local press who have long outsourced investigative reporting to faceless online blogs salivating over this one, covering the 'official line' only from one angle

ndu_chucks:

Can you read? abi you are now a blind bat? I maintain that anyone found guilty of any subsidy related crime including bribery should be imprisoned.

After reading your stuff, you still ask that question? Lol!
Anyway, dude it is quite clear that you are playing games by suggesting Otedola be jailed for calling the law on the criminal Farouk.
You might understand such backward logic, but from where I stand, it is a clear case of obscurantism.

eGuerrilla: Otedola the paragon of truth?
Someone's having a laugh at the expense of Nigerians.

By all means jail Farouk Lawan if he is found guilty, but only after you've jailed Otedola for the crime of being the most lily-livered CEO of a multi-national corporation.
Here is someone who can afford some of the best legal birds (SANs) money can buy in Nigeria, with a direct link into the presidency, admitting to being cowed by some lowly placed ad hoc committee chairman.

On a side-note, it is good to see our local press who have long outsourced investigative reporting to faceless online blogs salivating over this one, covering the 'official line' only from one angle

Hehehehehe.

¶ dnt understand wat all dis hulabaloo Ȋ̝̊̅s abt. Show us †ЂΞ video b4 cryin blue murder! If we nor see video where farouk dey collect dollars, otedola shud be sent straight τ̅o jail for defarmation of character & petroleum subsidy fraud. Until we see †ЂΞ video, ¶ call on GEJ τ̅o speedily prosecute every single individual indicted in ∂α† probe report!

ttt

Why was Otedola fighting s hard to remove Zenon from d list, if he had nothing to fear about d purchase of foreign currency without importation? What, in his opinion emboldened Lawan to demand a $3m bribe? I mean he could simply have waited patiently and prepared well to legally pull Zenon out of d report...and shame Lawan. Y agree to give bribe in a "sting operation"? Detective Femi Otedola, pls answer

All I keep hearing is "show us the video", "show us the video". In this day and age don't yall know that any video can be made or doctored to fit any situation?

yeye people! make una show us the video na! or are we not permitted to watch it too?

eGuerrilla: Otedola the paragon of truth?

On a side-note, it is good to see our local press who have long outsourced investigative reporting to faceless online blogs salivating over this one, covering the 'official line' only from one angle

Thisday Newspaper and Nduka Obaigbena, spokesman of the subsidy cabal. Is this the blackmail we've always known Thisday for? Time will tell.

Is anybody reading that part of this story that says EFCC is denying to have received any tape from Otedola? Siddon look na dog name. Nigerians are watching

Otedola phocked up. Why is he getting involved in a sting?

[b][b][/b]When contacted, the EFCC, however, said it had neither received the videotape nor had it commenced investigations into the bribery scandal."

^^i rest my case

Thief thief Thief. Who s sayng Nigeria wil b grt? I pity dat prsn. Grt Makaevelli once said we r al thiefs. Anybody dat has no opportunity to steal considers hmself an honest man. Most of us criticisng bth parties wud do more if given d opportunity. Abegggeeeee

holahabib: Chineke God!

both d briber nd d bribee shud be jaild

Well, this is getting hot!

I will not indict anybody for now. What we have is still heresay! We should wait to lay ouy hands on the audio and video proof before we crucify otedola and farouk!

We can't jump to conclusions yet! Investigation must be established and accusation proved beyond all reasonable doubt.

Those people shouting "show is the video" are little more than fools.
If you want to see the video, the best place to scream foolishly is not NL; take your placards to Yellow House Abuja (SSS headquarters). Lock the place down and see whether you won't be forced to leave the place with a higher IQ slapped in through your ears. LolZZ!

hmm!! How intriguing. Let's see the video then we shall conclude. House of assembly and bribe! Just like african tales and tortoise.

This is why i hate nigeria.. look at how some people are suggesting for a man dat sed d truth to be jailed dats very sad! if u jail dat man, then tomorrow u expect another man to say the truth again, right? fools! that man dat sed d truth should be protected against those gullible maniacs so dat they wont end up killing him and if there is any crime d man has done, he should be forgiven because he sed d truth and tomorrow otherz will say the truth just as he had done.

I personaly know Farouq but I don't give a fvck about him cos as nice nd transparent as he appears, all politrickcians are criminals like OBJ rightly pointed but I am positive this is all a set-up to descredit the probe, create a major diversion and in some time to come, we won't hear nada about it again......if not that its a diversion, why would there be an issue of bribe against such high person(farouq) nd he's not been arrested.

Most of this major oil Marketers funded PDP in the last election nd that's why GEJ opened the window to allow all this happen.....

The bigest thieves in this subsidy issue are the Excos cos how can more than A trillion naira be swept nd you tell us you know nothing about it?.....

I am not daft nd I aint falling for the crap...