Tinubu has wiped away my tears – Farouk Lawan

Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting him a presidential pardon, saying the act has renewed his hope and wiped away his tears.

“The 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 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,” the Kano-born politician said in a statement on Thursday.

Lawan was among 175 individuals who received presidential clemency following the approval of the Council of State on President Tinubu’s recommendation, according to PlatinumPost.

In a Facebook post, the former lawmaker thanked God and lauded the President for his compassion.

He wrote: “I give all praise to Almighty Allah (SWT), the Merciful and the Beneficent for the life He has given me.

“To a fatherly, compassionate, and decisive political leader, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, God and history shall remember you.

“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 long treatise. I lie postrate, 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.”

Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono federal constituency of Kano State, gained national attention in 2012 over a high-profile bribery allegation. He was accused of demanding $3 million from businessman Femi Otedola to remove Zenon Petroleum from a list of firms implicated in a fuel subsidy scam.

A video showing Lawan receiving bundles of cash sparked widespread public outrage, leading to his prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In June 2021, a Federal Capital Territory High Court convicted him on three counts and handed him a seven-year jail term. The Court of Appeal, in February 2022, set aside two of the convictions but upheld one, reducing the sentence to five years. The Supreme Court later affirmed that decision in January 2024.
Lawan completed his sentence and regained his freedom in October 2024.