Money Laundering: EFCC arraigns fmr Lagos Attorney-General, Shasore for N159m, $60,000   

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, arraigned a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State,  Olasupo Shasore,  SAN, on  14-count charges  bordering on money laundering to the tune of N159,700,000.00 and $60,000.

EFCC  Head of  Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement explained that Shasore was arraigned alongside his company,  Middlesex Investment Ltd,  before Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja,  for failing to develop a  programme to combat money laundering and other illegal acts, including failing  to designate a compliance officer as specified under Section 9(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended).

He was also accused of failing to comply with the money laundering act by submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment a declaration of activities of his company.

One of the count reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, SAN,  director of MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED and signatory    to the company’s bank account at all material times, between the 3^rd and 11^th day of September 2014, within the Judicial division of the Federal High Court, aided the said MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED in failing to report in writing, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a single lodgement transaction of the sum of N60, 000,000.00, from Mandivera Global Resources Limited, into the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Account Number 0005659394 of  MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED, as required under Section 10(1)b of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011(as amended), and you thereby committed an offence under Section 18(a) of the said Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”

Another count reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, SAN,   director of MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED and signatory to the company’s bank account at all material times, between the 26^th August 2019 and 3^rd September 2019, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, aided the said MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED, in failing to report in writing to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission a single transfer transaction of the sum of $30,000 from the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc account number 0005659435 of MIDDLESEX INVESTMENT LIMITED, to the account of Olasupo Shasore, as required under Section 10 (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011(as amended), and you thereby committed an offence under Section 18(a) of the said Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Same Act.”

He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him, prompting prosecution counsel, Bala Sangha to pray the court for a trial date and  remand of  the defendant in a correctional facility.

Defense counsel, Wole Akoni, SAN, however, urged  the court to admit the defendant to bail.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to March 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2023 for commencement of trial. The judge further adopted the bail conditions granted the defendant by  the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division.

The court had earlier granted the  defendant  bail in the sum of N50, 000,000.00( Fifty Million Naira only) with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a serving Director or Permanent Secretary in the service of the Federation or Lagos State Government. The surety is required to produce two copies of a  recent passport photograph and evidence of payment of tax clearance, while the defendant is  ordered  to deposit his  international passport  with the registrar of the court.