Nigeria, Oct. 10 -- On Thursday, the National Council of State granted a state pardon to former Kano lawmaker Farouk Lawan.

Mr Lawan was jailed for taking bribes while serving as the chairman of a House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud around the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

The former lawmaker is among four ex-convicts President Bola Tinubu pardoned: Anastasia Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Alanamu. Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said, "They were pardoned to enable them to integrate into society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse."

Mr Lawan was convicted of receiving a $500,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, a businessman. Mr Lawan was accused of demanding $3 million to remove Mr Otedola's firms...