Alleged Corruption: Proof Of Service Stalls Shasore’s Trial, Court Adjourns To June 20

The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed June 20 to commence trial in the alleged $200,000 corrupt offer charge brought against the former Attorney General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Mojisola Dada fixed the date following a disagreement over the service of documents from the prosecution to the defence. This disagreement effectively stalled the commencement of the trial on Tuesday.

On October 21, 2022, Shasore was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge bordering on corrupt offers to public officers contrary to and punishable under Section 9(1) (a) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act 2000.

He pleaded not guilty.

At the last sitting of the court on Dec. 7, 2022, Shasore sought an adjournment of his trial to enable him to obtain more documents from the prosecution to prove his innocence.

Though counsel to the EFCC, Bala Sanga said he was ready to proceed with the trial, he expressed no objections to the request for an adjournment. He also told the court that the prosecution will oblige the defence with the relevant documents especially as the law says that what is required is proof of evidence.

Justice Mojisola Dada granted the request for an adjournment to allow parties to exchange documents and subsequently adjourned till today.

At the proceedings, another Senior Advocate, Muiz Banire who appeared for Shasore informed the court that the prosecutor was yet to oblige the defence team with the documents they had requested at the last adjourned date.

The SAN further contended that the defence would need those documents to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge.

In a counter-response, the lawyer for the prosecution, Sanga, notified the court that they have served the defence with the requested documents while showing the court the proof of service.

Justice Dada, who confirmed that the proof of service was not in the court’s file, urged the prosecution to file an affidavit of service. The court then adjourned further proceedings till June 20.

According to the EFCC, Mr Olasupo Shasore allegedly gave $100,000 to Mrs Olufolakemi Adelore (then Director, Legal, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources) on account of the role she played in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The prosecution also submitted that the defendant allegedly gave another $100,000 to Mr Ikechukwu Oguine (Secretary to the Corporation and Coordinator, Legal Services, (NNPC) on account of the role he played in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The EFCC said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 9(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The EFCC on October 21, 2022, arraigned Shasore on a two-count charge bordering on corrupt offers.