By Emegwoako C. Paschal
Mr. Olasupo Shasore, the former Attorney General of Lagos State, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, October 20th.
He is charged with four counts of money laundering in the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Shasore is accused of committing $100,000 in money laundering without going through a financial institution.
The first count of the accusations reads: “That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N. on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court induced Olufolakemi Adelore to commit an offence, to wit accepting cash payment of the sum of US100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution, which such exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thus committed an offense in violation of section 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), which is punishable under section 16(6) of the same Act.”
Count two states: “That you, Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N, on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, made a cash payment of the sum of USD 100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to Olufolakemi Adelore through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin in a transaction without going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the legal limit, and you thus committed an offense in violation of sections 1(a) and 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Count three states: “That you, Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N., on or about the 18th of November 2014, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court, induced one Ikechukwu Oguine, to commit an offense, namely, accepting cash payment of the sum of USD100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution, which such amount exceeded the amount permitted by law, and you thus committed an offense in violation of Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Act of 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Count four Reads” That you, Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N, on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, made a cash payment of USD100,000.00 (one hundred thousand United State Dollars) to one Ikechukwu Oguine, which sum exceeded the amount permitted by law, and you thereby committed an offense in violation of sections 1(a) and 16(1),(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, as amended) and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
He did, however, enter a not-guilty plea on all counts.
