Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered Shasore to continue to enjoy the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore (SAN) at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The agency on Friday arraigned Shasore and his company, Middlesex Investments Ltd, before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a 14-count money laundering charge.
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.
He, 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.
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.
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The EFCC, in count one, alleged that between Sept. 3 and Sept. 11, 2014, the firm and 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.
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 Attorney General 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 December 6.