Ex-Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on an investigation into fuel subsidy regime in 2012, Farouk Lawan, told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Tuesday that his first defence witness' brother in his ongoing bribery case was killed by Lassa fever in Kano, on Sunday.

Lawan, on Tuesday, gave this as the reason for his inability to open his defence in the bribery case instituted against him since 2012.

The former legislator, who was present in court on Tuesday, is being prosecuted for allegedly accepting $500,000 as bribe for the removal of billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola's company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the list of firms indicted by the House committee for alleged fraud in the subsidy scheme.

Justice Angela Otaluka, had in her ruling delivered on October 17, 2019, dismissed the no-case submission which Lawan filed after the prosecution closed its case with five witnesses, including Otedola.

The judge had ruled that contrary to Lawan's contention in his no-case submission, the prosecution made out a prima facie case against him which he had to defend.

The court directed him to open his defence on November 11, 2019.

Due to unconfirmed reasons, the trial was further adjourned till Tuesday.