Mr. Olasupo Shasore SAN, former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, has hired four leading senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to lead his defence as he prepares to be arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos today.
Mr. Charles Candide-Johnson SAN, a respected law reform advocate, leads the team. Mr. Olawale Akoni SAN, Dr. Muiz Banire SAN, and Mr. Chijioke Okoli SAN are also members of the formidable defence team.
It was also learned that another top-tier senior lawyer may join and lead Shasore’s defence team in court today, as he fights to clear his name on a four-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Meanwhile, according to a bail application obtained, the legal team for the embattled senior lawyer will seek bail on self-recognizance.
The bail application, filed on October 13, 2022, requests “AN ORDER admitting the Applicant to bail on’self-recognizance’ and/or on such reasonable and liberal terms as the Honourable Court may determine pending the hearing and determination of this Charge.”
A 20-paragraph affidavit deposed by one Orji Agwu Uka, a legal practitioner and one of the defence lawyers, backs up the application.
The charge is FHC/L/447C/2022, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Olasupo Shasore, SAN.
The EFCC filed a four-count charge against Shasore, including allegations of money laundering.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N. on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court induced Olufolakemi Adelore to commit an offence, to wit accepting cash payment of the sum of US100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution which such exceeded the amount authorised by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) of the same Act.”
Count two reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a transaction without going through a financial institution, made cash payment of the sum of USD 100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to Olufolakemi Adelore through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin, which sum exceeded the amount permitted by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(1)(d) the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Count three reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N., on or about the 18th November, 2014, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, induced one Ikechukwu Oguine, to commit an offence, to wit: accepting case payment of the sum of USD100,000.00 (One Hundred thousand United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution, which such amount exceeded the amount permitted by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) Of the same Act.”
Count four reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through a financial institution and made cash payment of the sum of USD100,000.00 (One Hundred thousand United State Dollars) to one Ikechukwu Oguine which sum exceeded the amount permitted by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary sections 1(a) and 16(1),(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, as amended) and punishable under section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”
Shasore was summoned by the anti-graft agency in January to explain his involvement in the Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) case. Nigeria was represented in the P&ID case by the former Lagos Attorney-General.
According to the Federal Government, Shasore conspired with P&ID to pervert justice in the contentious gas supply purchasing agreement (GSPA) contract. In an interview, Shasore denied the allegation.
In a British court, the P&ID won a $9.6 billion judgement against Nigeria, claiming that it had entered into a contract to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State. According to the company, the deal fell through because the federal government failed to fulfil its end of the bargain.
