Tinubu’s Pardon Has Pulled Me Back Into Active Citizenship – Farouk Lawan
Former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting him a presidential pardon, describing the gesture as “fatherly, compassionate, and decisive.”
Lawan said the pardon had “drafted him back into active citizenship,” adding that it was a moment of renewal for him and his family.
“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,” he said in a statement issued shortly after the pardon.
The former lawmaker was among 175 beneficiaries of the presidential pardon approved by the National Council of State on Thursday. Others included Herbert Macaulay, Mamman Vasta, and Nweke Francis Chibueze.
Describing President Tinubu’s action as compassionate, Lawan said, “Mr President has cast a warm blanket over me, pulling me back from the harshness of yesterday’s cold. To a fatherly, compassionate, and decisive political leader, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, God and history shall remember you.”
Reflecting on his past, he added, “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.”
Lawan, who represented Bagwai/Shanono Constituency in Kano State for four terms, was convicted in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from oil magnate Femi Otedola during the fuel subsidy probe.
He was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, though the Court of Appeal later reduced it to five years after dismissing two of the charges. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2024, and Lawan completed his sentence in October that year.
With Tinubu’s pardon, Lawan has now been fully absolved of all legal and reputational barriers, paving the way for his possible return to public life and politics.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
