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Conversation Between Lawan, Otedola Exposed

03 Jul 2012

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Mr. Femi Otedola and Hon. Farouk Lawan

By Ike Abonyi and Onwuka Nzeshi

Snippets of the conversation between the suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy Scheme, Hon. Farouk Lawan, and Zenon Oil and Gas Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, over the $3million cash-for-clearance scandal were laid bare Monday.

A transcript of the recorded conversation between the duo, which was obtained by THISDAY, revealed how Lawan, who had earlier collected $500,000 out of the $3 million bribe, set out to collect the balance of $2.5 million.

THISDAY, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio recording, which was also played repeatedly on Channels Television station Monday.

But Lawan’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, in an immediate reaction to the broadcast of the audio tape described it as “infertile, vague, puerile and inadmissible as evidence by any court of law or tribunal.”

Part of the conversation between the duo came out a day after Lawan’s lawyers challenged the “State Security Service, the police, Mr. Otedola or any other person for that matter, to produce for public viewing the video or film and call logs of the conversation between him (Lawan) and Mr. Otedola unedited and undoctored.”

THISDAY learnt that the audio recording now in the public domain, is part of 19 tapes and six video recordings of what transpired between Lawan and Otedola.

Otedola, on his part, is expected to appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges Tuesday, less than a week after Lawan defended his conduct before the same committee.
The committee is meant to probe allegations that the lawmaker collected $620,000 out of the $3 million to remove the name of Zenon Oil from the list of companies that bought foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without importing fuel.

Part of the conversation between the duo is as follows:
Lawan: (Apparently enquiring on where to collect the money) your house?

Otedola: I don’t want to bring it to my house. It is a lot of money.

Lawan: Oh, yes. So, where because I’m hastening to the ...(the rest is inaudible). You are in the airport now?

Otedola: Yes, at the airport in an aircraft.

Lawan: (Beginning of response inaudible).. and before they can come over now; unless I send somebody to the airport. I can’t leave by the time they come. I will be in the chambers. I have a lot of things to do myself.

Otedola: Is there anybody you can trust that I can give it to? Or maybe I should just postpone my travelling to China till tomorrow?

Lawan: No, no, no. In fact, I will arrange with someone. Let me give you his number.

Otedola: Okay.

Lawan: His number is 080...

Otedola: Hold on, hold on, hold on. 080..

Lawan: 08036513355.

Otedola: What is the name?

Lawan: TJ (presumably an abbreviation for Tijani).

Otedola: So, I will give him the balance. That is $2.5 million.

Lawan: That is right. Just hold on. I am calling him to be sure his phone is through.

Otedola: Where will I meet him?

Lawan: Hold on, hold on. Just hold on, just hold on. Don’t quick send...(conversation fades out).

Repeated calls by THISDAY to TJ’s number did not go through as the service provider said the number is “currently switched off, please try again later.”

Ozekhome, in a statement, said after listening to and watching the audio recording with Lawan, the question that arose was: “Where is the visual of the audio?”

He said the question arose because Otedola had said he used the State Security Service (SSS) “to carry out a so-called ‘Sting Operation’, which showed Farouk Lawan not only pocketing the sum of $500,000, but also putting some under his cap, in Mr. Otedola’s Lagos home (sic).”

According to him, in the absence of the video tape of the transaction between the duo, the audio tape in the public is “highly doctored, manipulated and incomprehensible voices purported to be his and Lawan’s.”

Ozekhome noted that professionally, Channels did make the vital point that the audio was “purported” to be the voice of both men, but demanded to know where the video recording was to back Otedola’s claim.

“Recall that Mr Otedola had told the whole world that he used the SSS to carry out a so called ‘Sting Operation’, which showed Farouk Lawan not only pocketing the sum of N500,000 US Dollars (sic), but also putting some under his cap, in Mr. Otedola’s Lagos home (sic).

“On Farouk’s instructions, we had debunked this allegation and challenged Mr. Otedola, or the police and SSS to produce this complete audio video, unedited and undoctored,” Ozekhome charged.

He added that Otedola had the opportunity of doing this through Channels TV, but he did not.

“Rather, he brought highly doctored, manipulated and incomprehensible voices purported to be his and Lawan’s.
“He will certainly require forensic evidence to prove this to be true in this highly technologised world of manipulative evidence that can easily turn a man into a woman.

“Certainly, the audio was a sorry anti-climax to what Nigerians had been expecting.

“Even at that, let us take the audio ‘evidence’ itself for whatever it is worth. The conversation started somewhere in the middle, not from the beginning and ended abruptly.

“Our client hereby still challenges Mr. Otedola to air the entire audio visual (sic) and also the complete video for Nigerians to see the setting and environment in which the alleged bribe took place, who said what, to whom and for what," he said.

He added that his client believes that the entire footage was devilish, satanic, luciferous, mischievous and completely taken out of context, adding, “Even then the audio shows that it is Mr Otedola offering to pay the balance of the alleged bribe of N2.5 million US Dollars (sic), not Mr. Farouk Lawan.”

Ozekhome observed that from the conversation that transpired, “there was no mention of the purpose of the alleged balance of $2.5 million, or any mention of Mr. Otedola’s indicted companies, Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum (sic), whose desired removal from the committee’s indicted companies list allegedly formed the fulcrum of the bribe itself.

“If it was actually a ‘sting operation’, why is it Mr. Otedola and not the SSS that is officially releasing it on Channels TV?  The audio (recording) has raised more questions and doubts than answers. Mr. Farouk Lawan says it is a doctored anti-climax."

But as Lawan and his lawyers scramble to salvage whatever is left of the lawmaker’s battered reputation, Otedola is expected to appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privilege Tuesday in furtherance of its investigations into the scandal. 

The clerk to the committee, Mr. James Obot, confirmed to THISDAY last night that Otedola would be appearing before the committee at 2 pm Tuesday to substantiate his allegations against Lawan.

It was, however, not clear whether Otedola would give his testimony in camera, as Lawan did when he appeared last Thursday.

In addition to his verbal testimony, Lawan also tendered documents said to contain call logs obtained from a telecommunications operator. The call logs, THISDAY learnt, are meant to substantiate his claims that it was Otedola who initiated the transaction and not vice versa.

However, contrary to the claims by Lawan’s lawyers in their petition to the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, that their client reported the alleged attempt to bribe him to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, THISDAY has learnt that no such report was made to the commission.

Sources in the commission said that although Lawan visited the commission, he did not mention anything concerning Otedola or that he collected money from him or somebody else.

“He visited the chairman but he never mentioned anything about his collecting any money from anybody. He only talked about the pressure they faced during the investigation,” the source said.

The source wondered how the lawyers came about the claim that Lamorde detailed the EFCC’s Director of Operations to be on standby in case Otedola called again.

Healthy VS Unhealthy Relationships in Nigeria

Healthy relationships are made up of people with Healthy hearts. Healthy relationships prevent sinful self-obsession that leads to addictions. A healthy relationship promotes the opposite of addiction. Healthy relationships contain genuine love which exudes openness, trust and freedom. There are many striking differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Identifying these differences helps us to understand how we can grow toward healthy relationships:

1. Friendship VS Victimization: In healthy relationships, good friends become better friends. Unhealthy relationships are shallow and susceptible to being marked by victimization.

2. Security VS Fear: Security is a rare commodity. Most of the time, we feel an overwhelming need for at least one relationship to make us feel safe. 1 John 4:18 says "There is  no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear". When we are in Healthy relationships we focus on the needs of others and we calm their fears by being reliable. This drives out fear and provides genuine security.

3. Vulnerability VS Defensiveness: In a secure relationship, a person is free to open up and be vulnerable. In this sense, vulnerability is delightful because it enables you to discover more of who you are and appreciate all the good that God created in you. In a relationship characterized by fear, there is always a need to build up a defensive wall. This gradually leads to "death" rather than to life and growth.

4. Sacrifice VS Demand for Sacrifice: Not many books and magazines exalt the joys of sacrifice. Most of us demand sacrifice from our partners rather than sacrificing ourselves. Character is created in a relationship when love requires the surrender of privilege. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the potential for a relationship. God's relationship with us required nothing less than the utmost sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ.

We incline for less than God's best when we compromise and settle for a partner out of necessity, emptiness and isolation. You compromise when you fall in love with just anyone who seems to be interested in you. You also compromise when you go against your sexual behavioral principles. In an unhealthy relationship, one person is the constant giver, while the other is the constant receiver. A healthy relationship is typical for trust, strength and support.

$3 million bribe: Lawan, otedola audio recording out

An audio recording has surfaced in the media believed to be part of a telephone conversation conversation between Farouk Lawan and Femi Otedola over the bribery scandal.

Farouk had earlier been questioned over the $3 milion scandal behind closed doors by the House Committee on Ethics, while Femi Otedola has been invited by the same committee and is expected to appear before them on Tuesday.

The audio conversation which first appeared on Channels Television, sheds more light on the transaction between Farouk and MD/CEO Zenon Oil and Gas Femi Otedola Otedola concerning the bribe.

Farouk Lawan, former chairman of the ad hoc committee on the subsidy probe, is accused of collecting bribe from Femi Otedola, to have two of his companies removed from a list of indicted companies who received foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria but failed to bring in fuel.

The lawmaker is said to have received $1.5million upfront and the audio recording shows how he collected the initial payment, and how Lawan would collect the $2.5 million balance.

The conversation verbatim

Otedola: How are you sir? I don’t want to bring it to my house

Lawan: Oh, you would take it to your house

Otedola: No I don’t want to bring it to my house; it is a lot of money

Lawan: err… so where? Because I’m rushing to the… they are at the airport now?

Otedola: Yes they are in the airport in the aircraft

Lawan: Well I can’t come over now and before they can come over now unless I send somebody to but I can’t because…by the time they come I should be…I have a lot of things to do myself

Otedola: Is there anybody you think I can give it to or maybe I should just postpone my trip to China till tomorrow?

Lawan: No, no it’s ok…I’ll arrange it with someone…let me give you his number 080

Otedola: hold on hold on

Lawan: 08036513355

Otedola: (Repeats number after him)What’s the name?

Lawan: TJ

Otedola: Sorry?

Lawan: aaarrh… TJ

Otedola: Ateezay?

Lawan: TJ!

Otedola: Teezay?

Lawan: No, Tj

Otedola: OK. So I will give him the balance; that is erm… 2.5 million

dollars, yea?

Lawan: that’s right. Hold on. I’m calling him to be sure his phone is on…..

Audio Conversation

Business Day

HAPPY NEW "SECOND HALF"

Here we are, at the halfway point of the year. This is another time for reflection. I am a July baby, hence, for most of my adult life July has been a period of reflection. Even from my childhood up to my teenage years, the school session always ended in July; So it always seemed to me like we had concluded a year and were about to begin a new one. Whenever we took off for the long break, it always felt like i was preparing for a new year. In this month of July, i want to reflect a little bit on what the first half of the year was like to me. In the past half of the year, i actually worked on myself and learned a lot about what i want in my life. It was a tough six months with a lot of ups and downs, but as we begin the second half of the year, i realize that i have a lot to be grateful to God for. I got a beautiful daughter in January and all i want is for her to experience what she loves. I also have an amazing husband who i respect and honor and who loves me for who i am. I try to leave every single day of my life now being honest with myself and others around me. I have discovered that when you practice honesty, truth, love and openness, you maintain a clear unbiased conscience. So, this second half, i will try to go all out to achieve / sustain 100% in all of life's endeavours.

It was an amazing first half, and now, we've got an amazing second half ahead of us.

Quick Pointers For a Distinctive Relationship

Relationships build our emotions and form our interactions with God, our spouses, partners, family, loved ones and those around us. No matter how much we desire a spectacular relationship, it will not come so easily without applying some basic principles. Some people believe that they only need to find the right guy or girl for them and that sorts out their relationship; but research has shown that this is not entirely correct. No matter how long you've been with your partner or how much they fit in as your "perfect guy or girl", you have to continually put yourself forward and ensure that the relationship remains hot.  Here are some principles on making our relationships work:


1. Be satisfied with yourself: If you do not like yourself, you won't believe that others like you. Being satisfied with yourself is reflected in your self esteem. Naturally, Having self-esteem is easy for people brought up by loving balanced parents, but it can be harder for others. Having self esteem means the ability to be strong as an individual, hence not inclining too hard on your partner and relying too much on them for reassurance. The stronger you are as a person, the stronger your relationship will be.


2. Like your partner: If you really like your partner, then you have an excellent footing for a relationship. No matter how much you love each other, if you don't like yourselves and enjoy being together your differences will pull you apart.


3. Create time for each other: The amount of time we give to things is a measure of how important we think they are. I know that in our busy lives of today especially considering work and our kids this is one of the least of our priorities, but we need to continually make time for one another. Make the evening where you can go out or stay home and eat a nice meal.


4. Physical contact: Physical contact is utterly crucial to our happiness. Make time to hug, caress and cuddle everyday.


5. Have a personal relationship with God: Having a relationship with God will help you clearly understand intimacy, love, respect, honor and unity.


Apart from the pointers identified above, to establish a distinctive relationship you also have to be sincere, candid and faithful. These are difficult because, sometimes, we are not even truthful to ourselves; so it can be a bit frightful to bare ourselves to others.


You also need to be dependable and show admiration for your partner. This is a demonstration of security which is necessary in a relationship for both men and women.


Enough said! However, one vital point to note is COMMUNICATION. Most issues can be resolved if the couple involved sits together and really talk about the problem. You must consider place, time and tone when you are about to communicate with your partner, especially on sensitive matters. Let us take an example, say your husband is not happy with you because of the expensive shoes you just bought, knowing fully well that the financial situation in your house is low. How do you respond to this? Do you start talking about this exact situation right there in the shopping mall? No! You quickly apply the principle of place, time and tone.


I believe that communication is the key that holds all the other pointers in place. All the above approaches are also useful in our relationships with friends, family, colleagues etc.

Police confirm attack on Oshiomhole’s convoy

The police in Edo State on Friday blamed the students of the Institute of Technology and Management, Usen, for Thursday night’s armed attack on Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy in the town.

Oshiomhole had held a rally in the town and was heading back to Benin City when his convoy was attacked.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Anthony Airhuoyo, said the police had commenced an investigation into the incident and the burning of a police station by the students.

The statement said Oshiomhole had met with the students briefly and promised to address them on his way back from his campaign before the attack.

The statement reads, “After the campaign at about 6.15 pm, the governor decided to address the students on another day because it was already getting late.

“But the students barricaded the expressway on the outskirts of Usen in order to compel the governor to visit their institution.

“When their demands could not be met, they resorted to throwing stones and other missiles at the governor’s convoy.

“In the process of dispersing the riotous students, two of them were injured and are currently receiving treatment.

“Nobody was killed in the process. The students later regrouped and went to Usen Police outpost and vandalised the place.

“Investigation has commenced as the area is closely being monitored by the police.”

In another statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, the Edo State Government alleged that thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party had opened fire on the governor’s convoy shortly after he paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of the area (Onogie) Oluogbe II, in his palace.

But the PDP promptly denied involvement in the attack through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Mathew Urhoghide.