The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arraigned a former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, SAN on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of One Hundred thousand dollars.
The former Attorney General was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
One of the charges says the former Attorney General had on the 18th of November, 2014 in Lagos, induced one Olufolakemi Adelore to commit an offence by accepting cash payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States dollars without going through a financial institution.
It says the sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and 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.
Shasore pleaded not guilty to the charges and in view of his plea, the Prosecution Counsel, Bala Sanga, asked the court to remand the defendant in prison pending trial while he sorts out a date for the commencement of trial.
In response, Counsel for the Defendant, Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN, informed the court of a pending bail application filed on October 13, 2022, and asked the court to admit his client to bail on self-recognisance.
Candied-Johnson while making his submissions also informed the court that the defendant had been under investigation for over three years, and that he had been unable to travel outside the country because his passport is in the custody of the EFCC.
Candide-Johnson prayed the court to give the defence a period of seven days to enable it perfect the bail conditions that may be granted the defendant, if the bail is not granted on self-recognizance.
The Defence Counsel further asked that the passport of the defendant be put in the custody of the court subject to the ruling on bail.
Justice Aneke granted the defendant bail in the sum of Fifty Million Naira with one surety in like sum.
The surety must be a serving Director or a Permanent Secretary in the employment of Lagos State.
The surety must deposit two passport photographs and evidence of tax payment to the court.
Justice Aneke also held that the passport of the defendant be deposited with the Registrar of the Court.
The matter was adjourned to November 24, 2022 for commencement of trial.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
