Farouk Lawan Reflects on Prison Ordeal and Political Lessons After Presidential Pardon
Former Nigerian lawmaker Farouk Lawan, once a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, has opened up about the profound personal and political insights he gained during his imprisonment, crediting divine intervention for revealing his true allies. In a recent interview, Lawan stated: “When Allah allows you to face trials, He also opens your eyes to see who your true allies are and who are not. When you’re in a place like prison, you have enough time to reflect deeply on your relationships.” He described his prison experience as a transformative period that reshaped his understanding of loyalty in politics.
Background on Lawan’s Conviction
Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, was convicted in 2021 for soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to $500,000 from oil tycoon Femi Otedola in 2012. The scandal arose during Lawan’s chairmanship of the House ad hoc committee investigating Nigeria’s multi-billion-naira fuel subsidy fraud, where he allegedly sought to remove Otedola’s company from the list of indicted firms. A Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to seven years in prison without the option of a fine on June 22, 2021. Lawan was imprisoned at the Kuje Correctional Centre and served his term until his recent release.
The Presidential Pardon and Release
On October 9, 2025, President Bola Tinubu granted Lawan a state pardon as part of clemency extended to 175 individuals, recommended by the Council of State. This included 82 inmates granted full clemency and 65 others with reduced sentences. The pardon restores Lawan’s civil rights, allowing him to resume full participation in public life, including politics. Lawan was released from Kuje prison shortly after the announcement, marking the end of a long legal and personal battle.
In his first public comments post-release, during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Lawan expressed profound gratitude: “When someone goes through a trial and Allah grants a chance for pardon, you must be thankful. My family and well-wishers across the world were all filled with joy when the news broke. It was indeed a day of thanksgiving to Allah, for He made it possible, and to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for doing what is right, something worthy of commendation.” He also reflected on entering prison with resilience: “Before I even got to prison, my mind was at peace. I knew that wherever I was going, I would meet people, and if others could survive there, I too could live through it.”
Insights on Political Allies and Disappointments
Lawan’s reflections centered on the solitude of his ordeal, which exposed fractures in his political network. Despite his long association with the Kwankwasiyya movement—led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—a key figure in the group failed to reach out during his imprisonment or after his release. Lawan lamented: “It’s been a year now, and not even a phone call from him, not to say, ‘Thank you, Allah, you’re out,’ or offer a prayer for me.” He emphasized maintaining respect for Kwankwaso but clarified his shift away from the movement, noting he no longer identifies with it politically.
Future Plans: A New Chapter in Politics
The pardon, which Lawan views as “a new beginning and reconciliation with destiny,” has reignited his political ambitions. Having joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) after instructing his supporters to do so ahead of the 2023 elections (while he was incarcerated as a PDP member), he now signals openness to broader alliances. “Prison experience taught me who my real political allies are,” he said, adding that he sees no reason not to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, to align with a platform of national acceptance. Observers note that while the pardon clears legal hurdles, Lawan will need public forgiveness to fully rehabilitate his image in Nigerian politics.
This development underscores ongoing debates in Nigeria about corruption probes, political rehabilitation, and the use of presidential pardons, with Lawan’s case drawing parallels to other high-profile figures like the late poet Herbert Macaulay and military officer Mamman Vatsa, also pardoned in the same batch.