The embattled lawmaker was placed on suspension since June 2012 for his involvement in the controversial $620m bribery scandal that rocked the House of Representatives last year.
While on suspension, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Rose Oko, was asked by the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to chair the Committee in acting capacity.
On Thursday, Tambuwal named a replacement for Lawan, indicating that the four time legislator had been removed permanently as Chairman. In his place, the Speaker named Mr. Aminu Suleiman from Kano State.
However Lawan and his erstwhile secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalor, are currently standing trial for the bribery allegation.
It would be recalled that Farouk Lawan headed the Ad-hoc Committee, which investigated the fuel subsidy regime between January and April 2012.
The panel had uncovered how government officials allegedly connived with fuel importers to defraud the nation of N2.07 trillion in the guise of funding subsidy.
But as the House celebrated the findings, an oil businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, accused Lawan of demanding bribe from him. He claimed that the bribe demanded by Lawan was to clear two of his firms indictment for subsidy fraud, an allegation which Lawan vehemently denies.
Source: The Punch
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