4th November, 2022
By Taiye Agbaje
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, arraigned former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, on a 14-count money laundering charge.
Shasore was arraigned on a fresh charge before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on Thursday, reported that Shasore would be arraigned alongside his company, Middlesex Investments Ltd., today before Justice Ekwo.
While the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant in the charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/386/22 filed on Aug. 17 by the EFCC’s counsel, Bala Sanga, Middlesex Investments Ltd and Shasore are 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.
Shasore is alleged to be a director and a signatory to the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0005659394.
The former commissioner, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences alleged to have been committed along with the company.
Following no objection to his bail request by EFCC’S lawyer, Sanga,
The judge ordered Shasore to continue to enjoy the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC, after the request was not opposed to by Sanga.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until March 13, March 14, March 15, March 16 and March 17 for trial.
He directed the anti-graft agency’s lawyer and counsel to the defendants, Chief Olawale Akoni, SAN, to put their houses in order ahead of the trial dates.
NAN reports that the EFCC, in count one, alleged that between Sept. 3 and Sept. 11, 2014, the firm and Mr Shasore failed to report in writing to the agency a single lodgement transaction of the sum of N60 million from Mandivera Global Resources Limited into the Guaranty Trust Bank Pic account number 0005659394 of MIddlesex Investments Limited.
Also in count five, the EFCC alleged that between Aug. 26 and Sept. 3, 2019, the defendants failed to report in writing to the agency a single transfer transaction of the sum of 30, 000 dollars ($30,000.00) from the GTB account number 0005659435 of Middlesex Investments Ltd to the account of Olasupo Shasore.
The agency said this should be in compliance with Section 10(1)b of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 10(3) of the same act.
The suspects are further accused of failure to comply with the requirements of submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments, a declaration of the activities of the company as specified under Section 5(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b)of the same act, among others.
NAN reports that the EFCC had, on Oct. 20, arraigned Shasore before the Ikeja Special Offences Court.
He was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The former A-G of Lagos State was brought before Justice Mojisola Dada barely 24 hours after he was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos division, on a four-count charge of money laundering.
Justice Dada consequently granted him bail and adjourned the trial until Dec. 6.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
TOA/SH