Shasore, through his counsel, is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him on allegations of money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss an application filed by a former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Shasore (SAN).
Shasore, through his counsel, is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him on allegations of money laundering.
The anti-corruption agency made the submission while responding to the application filed by the defendant.
According to the EFCC, the defendant’s application is a ploy to delay the proceedings.
However, Shasore’s counsel, Chijioke Okoli (SAN) told the court that the defendant was served last Thursday and would need more time to file his response.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke agreed with the defence counsel and subsequently adjourned the hearing of all pending applications to June 26, 2023.
The EFCC arraigned Shasore on October 29, 2022, on four counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of $100,000.
In the charge sheet, Shasore was alleged to have induced one Olufolakemi Adelore, in accepting a 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 the sum of $100,000 to Ms Adelore through two persons, Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the senior lawyer made a cash payment of $100,000 to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.
Shasore was said to have committed the alleged offences on or about November 18, 2014. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the sums exceed the amount permitted by law.
It added that the offences also contravened sections 78(c), 1(a) and 16(1)(d) and 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
In January, EFCC interrogated Mr Shasore over his involvement in the Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) $9.6 billion judgement saga.
The senior lawyer, who was appointed as Nigeria’s legal representative in the P&ID case in 2012, was accused of compromising the country’s defence at a British arbitration tribunal, contributing to the humongous award issued against Nigeria by the panel.
P&ID Ltd had won a $9.6 billion arbitration against the Nigerian Government over a 2010 gas supply deal that went sour.
The court in London had ordered Nigeria to forfeit assets totalling $9.6 billion as compensation for the engineering firm if the country was unable to prove its case.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters showed that following an investigation by the EFCC, Shasore was found to have been paid $2 million for his involvement in the first and second stages of the arbitration.