Alleged $200m bribe: AGF to review Shasore’s case as court adjourns

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Friday that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had requested a review of the case against former Lagos Attorney-General Olasupo Shasore, charged with a 200 million-dollar bribe.

Supreme News reports that the EFCC counsel, Mr. Bala Sanga (SAN), informed an Ikeja Special Offences Court that there was a request from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for a review of the case.

Sanga said the request for review was due to the recent judgment of a United Kingdom Court.

He said the Federal Government of Nigeria had won its case against Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Ltd. in the UK court in October.

According to him, “the judgement was delivered after five years of legal work, which was finally given in favour of Nigeria, as the court quashed the 11 billion-dollar arbitration award in favour of P&ID.

“As a result of the judgement of the London Court, which I can call the'mother case,’ the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has recalled all documents for a comprehensive review, and we have a letter to that effect.

“We, therefore, request an adjournment as the prosecution awaits the outcome of the review.”

There was no objection raised by the lead defence counsel, Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN).

Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until January 24, 2024, for further reporting.

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

The embattled senior lawyer is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on alleged bribery of public officers, proffered against him by the EFCC.

He had pleaded not guilty, following his arraignment on October 21, 2022.

EFCC alleged that Shasore corruptly gave the sum of 100,000 dollars to Olufolakemi Adelore, the Director Legal, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The money was alleged to be given on account of the role she played in the arbitration proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) against the ministry.

It was also alleged that the defendant corruptly gave the sum of 100,000 dollars to one Ikechukwu Oguine, Secretary to the Cooperation and Coordinator (NNPC).

The money was also alleged to have been given on account of the role he played in the arbitral proceedings instituted by P&ID against the ministry.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Section 9(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Act 2000.