Don’t destroy bribe evidence – Tsav

FORMER Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Tsav, has cautioned security agencies handling the bribery allegations against the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, Farouk Lawan, against destroying evidence.

Lawan was suspended by the House last week after the Zenon Oil Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola claimed that the lawmaker demanded and received $620,000 from him to remove the names of his companies from the list of firms indicted of fraud.

Tsav said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He criticised the procedure adopted in releasing Lawan on bail, saying it fell short of standard police procedure.

Tsav said, “The procedure in laying bait for an accused person in a case of demanding and receiving bribes where marked money is involved, is to arrest the suspect in the act and recover the money involved on the spot.

“If security agencies failed to do so, is deliberate and a conspiracy to destroy evidence material to the charge and save him from successful prosecution.”

“Filming of the incident alone, cannot provide the required compelling evidence to sustain conviction.

“Charging Farouk Lawan to court without production of the monetary exhibit is sheer waste of time and compounding felony.

“Security agencies know this, but deliberately allowed Hon Lawan to go with the money. Shame!