TheCable

‎Boniface Emenalo, former secretary of the house of representatives ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy, on Tuesday said he accepted the $100,000 which Femi Otedola, a business mogul, offered members of the committee with the intention of exposing him.

Emenalo said Otedola attempted to bribe Farouk Lawan, chairman of the committee, and other members to get soft landing in the investigation of abuse of the subsidy regime in 2012.

He was speaking during his testimony at a federal capital territory (FCT) high court.

Emenalo testified as a witness in Lawan’s trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

He was previously charged with receiving  $120,000 from the oil magnate, but the charges were  dropped when he was made the prosecution witness.

Lawan is being prosecuted for allegedly collecting $500,000 out of the $3 million bribe he solicited from Otedola.

He is accused of accepting the bribe in exchange for the removal of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Otedola’s company, from the list of firms indicted by the committee.

Emenalo was cross-examined by a team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome, Lawan’s counsel.

The witness said he met with Otedola on April 22, 2012 ‎and on Tuesday April 24, 2012‎ at his home in Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.

He said at his first meeting with Otedola, they had discussions on issues including those relating to the work of the committee and areas he could make suggestions.

Denying that he received ‎$20,000 bribe from Otedola during their first meeting, Emenalo said it was during the second meeting that Otedola gave him the $100,000.

“The money I collected from Mr. Otedola was meant to be an exhibit to prove that members of the ad-hoc were being pressurised. I informed my chairman (Lawan) and handed over the money my chairman,” he said.

Emenalo also confirmed that Zenon Petroleum and Gas was one of the companies which the committee indicted for obtaining foreign exchange for importation of premium motor spirit (PMS), but diverted it.

He added that AP, a sister company owned by Otedola, utilised the forex to import petroleum products.

Angela Otakula, the presiding judge, has adjourned the matter till Wednesday for the prosecution to call its second witness.