Olasupo Shasore (SAN), a former Lagos attorney general and commissioner for justice was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday with allegedly laundering $200,000.
Shasore, who was the AG under previous Governor Babatunde Fashola's government, was taken before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke and presented with a four-count charge with the case number FHC/L/447C/2022.
The charge was filed at 1:30 p.m. on August 18, 2022, but newsmen only saw that it was dated August 12, 2022.
The EFCC asserted in it that Shasore broke the law on or around November 18, 2014.
The anti-graft agency claimed in the charge that the defendant induced a former Legal Director at the Petroleum Ministry, Olufolakemi Adelore, to accept cash payment of the sum of $100,000 without going through a financial institution.
He was also alleged to have made a cash payment of $100,000 to Adelore through Messrs Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.
The charge also added that the former Lagos State’s Attorney-General also induced and made another cash payment of $100, 000 to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.
The anti-graft agency said the sums exceeded the amount permitted by law.
It added that the alleged offences contravened sections 78(c); 1(a) and 16(1)(d) and 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and were punishable under sections 16(6) and 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.
Shasore pleaded not guilty.
His defense team led by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, Dr. Muiz Banire, Segun Ajibola and Chijioke Okoli prayed to the judge to grant the defendant bail on self-recognisance.
The application was supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed by one Orji Agwu Uka, a legal practitioner.
Prosecution counsel Bala Sanga did not oppose their request, explaining that the prosecution was only interested in the case's merit.
In his ruling, Justice Aneke admitted Shasore to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in the like sum.
The judge also directed that one of the sureties must be a permanent secretary or director in the Lagos State civil service.
The judge adjourned till November 24 for the commencement of the trial.