Money laundering: Ex-Lagos Attorney-General, Shasore gets N50m bail

A former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shashore, on Thursday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos to answer to a money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Shasore served as the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner for Justice during the administration of former governor Babatunde Fashola.

He was arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The prosecution accused the defendant of inducing one Olufolakemi Adetore to accept cash payment without going through a financial institution.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Bala Sanga, urged the court to order a remand of the defendant in custody pending trial.

However, the defence counsel, Mr C.A Candide-Johnson (SAN) who appeared with Messrs Muiz Banire (SAN), Adesegun Adebola (SAN) and Chijioke Okoki (SAN), prayed the court to allow the defendant bail on self-recognition.

The defence counsel averred that the defendant personally walked into the court for his arraignment this morning without any reminder, compulsion, or force.

He also informed the court that the defendant had cooperated with the anti-graft agency whenever required, as he had always made himself as well as documents requested from him available whenever required.

Besides, the  defence counsel added that an investigation of the matter had been on for the past  three years, adding that the defendant is not a flight risk

He, therefore, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of defence.

The prosecutor on his part said that he was not opposed to bail, but added that the concern of the prosecution is only for the defendant to be available to stand trial as lawfully required.

Following the submissions by counsel, the court stood down the matter for a while, so as to deliver a ruling on the bail application. Punch