SSS Officials Stop Farouk Lawan from Leaving Nigeria at Muritala Mohammed International Airport

Farouk Lawan, the embattled member of the House of Representatives who is currently being investigated over allegations of a $620,000 bribe was yesterday prevented from leaving the country.

Daily Times reports that he was booked an Emirates flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, however, SSS officials at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, barred him from leaving the country.

He was prevented from travelling for fear that he might flee the country to prevent being investigated or tried for the bribery allegation.

Lawan, the suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy regime, is currently being investigated for collecting $620,000 from Femi Otedola, the Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, to alter the House ad hoc committee’s report on the fuel subsidy regime.

It is not yet clear whether he was later allowed to travel but while this report might be welcoming, my confusion is that why wasn’t he told that he couldn’t leave the country? Were specific instructions given to him against leaving the country before he booked the flight and proceeded to the Airport?

What are your thoughts on this report?