Alleged $100,000 Money Laundering Charge:  EFCC, AGF Office Mull Letting Shasore Off The Hook

Kemisola Oye 

JUSTICE Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has been told that the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation  (AGF) has commenced discussion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the trial of a former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Olasupo Shasore. 

The EFCC had accused the former Lagos AG of a cash payment of 100,000 dollars to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution. He was alleged to have committed the offence on about 18 November 18 2014.

The prosecution said his offences contravene the provisions of sections 1(a) 16(1)(d), 18(c) and 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

He had pleaded not guilty to all the count charges.

However, at the resumed proceeding today, the EFCC counsel, Mr Bala Sanga announced his appearance for the prosecution while Mr Olawale Akoni (SAN) appeared for the defendant.

Akoni (SAN) informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing of their application dated 17th February and filed the same day.

He informed the court that there are some developments in the matter which may affect hearing of the application. He said that there is a letter from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in respect of the ongoing trial of the defendant.

Mr Akoni however presented the letter to the trial judge who having perused it asked the prosecutor for his reaction.

Sanga, in his response, confirmed that he was aware of the letter. He said that “We have been availed with the letter, we are entering a discussion with the Chambers of the AGF for the resolution of the case.

“We crave the indulgence of the court for an adjournment to discuss with the Chambers of the AGF for a possible resolution.”

The prosecution counsel also said that a similar case is before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja to be resolved by October.

He said, “We crave your indulgence to adjourn the matter to 2nd October 2023.

But Akoni said that he has not much problem with the date, but quickly drew the court’s attention to the date. According to him, the 2nd of October, being a Monday may be a public holiday because the 1st of October,  Independence Day falls on a Sunday.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to 4th October 2023 for a hearing of the pending applications.

Shashore (SAN), a former Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice during the tenure of Mr . Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was arraigned before a Federal High Court Lagos over alleged money laundering by the EFCC.

He was also arraigned before Justice Aneke on a four counts charge bordering on money laundering.

The prosecution alleged the defendant of inducing one Olufolakemi Adetore to accept cash payment without going through a financial institution.

In the charge, the former Chief Law Officer of Lagos State was alleged to have made a cash payment of 100,000 dollars to one Olufolakemi Adelore through one Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.

Eighteen-Eleven Media