The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the money laundering charges levelled against former Attorney-General of Lagos, Olasupo Shasore (SAN). This decision came following a directive from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja discharged Shasore after being informed by the prosecutor, Bala Sanga, that Fagbemi had instructed the EFCC to withdraw the charges. Shasore, who served as the attorney-general of Lagos and commissioner for justice during the Babatunde Fashola era, was standing trial in both Abuja and Lagos State on alleged money laundering offences.
“Upon being shown a letter from the AGF dated 23rd of November and the application by the prosecution counsel that the matter be withdrawn, the charge is hereby withdrawn and the defendant discharged,” announced Judge Ekwo.
Shasore had been arraigned on a 14-count money laundering charge before Justice Ekwo in Abuja on November 4, 2022. The charges, filed on August 17, 2022, implicated Middlesex Investments Ltd as the first defendant and Shasore as the second. Shasore was alleged to be a director and signatory to the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account number 0005659394.
Despite pleading not guilty, Shasore faced trial in Abuja and Lagos State. However, the recent directive from the AGF led to the withdrawal of charges in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This development follows Shasore’s arraignment before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on October 20, 2022, and later before Justice Mojisola Dada of a Federal High Court in Lagos on October 20, 2022. Notably, on October 23, a Business and Property Court in London, presided over by Justice Robin Knowles, quashed the $11 billion awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by P&ID. Judge Knowles declared that the award was obtained by fraud and found no merit in the bribery charges against Shasore, who had represented Nigeria in the arbitration.