Life Lesson: Why Farouk Lawan will Never Forget Femi Otedola

Smart men are not always wicked men. Wicked men are not always smart men. This is and remains a fact to reflect on.

Farouk Lawan walked out of prison recently, free after serving five years for bribery. His time in Kuje Custodial Centre ended with a statement of gratitude for surviving the ordeal. However, if Lawan is a normal person (and all signs point to this being the case), one name will forever echo in his mind—Femi Otedola.

Lawan’s journey to prison began in 2012 when he chaired a committee investigating fuel subsidy fraud. During this probe, he was caught accepting $500,000 from Otedola to clear his company, Zenon Petroleum, of wrongdoing. The case, full of twists, eventually led to Lawan’s conviction in 2021.

Otedola, on the other hand, clearly played his cards smartly. He reported Lawan’s demands to the Department of State Security (DSS), which provided marked bills and recorded the transaction. While Lawan insisted he was setting up Otedola, his excuse was too convenient. So, the court didn’t believe him.

The real kicker for many was that Otedola walked away untouched. His cooperation with law enforcement saved him from prosecution, while Lawan’s actions landed him in jail. The court made it clear that Lawan’s excuse of entrapment didn’t hold up under scrutiny.

Now out of prison, Lawan must be reflecting on Otedola’s role in his downfall. Five years is a long time, and in that period, he missed out on a flourishing political career. If not for this scandal, he could have climbed higher in Nigerian politics.

It’s safe to say Lawan won’t forget Otedola anytime soon. The sting, the bribe, the cameras, and the court all link back to one man. For Lawan, Otedola will always be the name that changed the course of his life.