CRIME

Alleged Laundering: Former Lagos Attorney-General, Olasupo Shasore Challenges Court Jurisdiction

Published

4 weeks ago

February 21, 2023

I-WAHAB

The scheduled further trial of a former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, SAN, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged money laundering, was stalled due to his application challenging the court jurisdiction to try him.

Sashore is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on alleged offences bordering money laundering.

The EFCC in a charge numbered FHC/L/447C/2022, accused Sashore (SAN) of accepting, transacting and making payments with cash sum of 100,000 USD, without going through a financial institution which exceeded the amount authorized by Law.

He was alleged to have paid the said sum to Olufolakemi Adelore and Ikechukwu Oguine.

Sashore (SAN) alleged acts, according to the EFCC contravened sections 78(c), 1(a) and 16(1)(d) and 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) and 16(2)(b)of the same Act.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges, when he was arraigned and he was accordingly admitted to bail in the sum of fifty million naira with one surety in like sum.

The surety, the judge ordered must be a serving Director or a Permanent Secretary in the service of the Federation or the Lagos state government. And that the Surety must produce two copies each of his or her recent passport photograph and evidence of payment of tax or tax clearance.

Justice Aneke also ordered the former Attorney-General to deposit his international passport with the Court’s registrar of this court pending trial.

At the resumed hearing of the charge today, EFCC prosecutor, Abba Mohammed, urged the court to allow him to call the eight witness to testify in the matter.

However, Sashore’s lawyers led by Olawale Akoni and Chijioke Okoye, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), told the court that their clients have filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

Sashore’s application challenging the court’s jurisdiction, is basically a motion to strike out the charge for want of jurisdiction.

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The application, in the alternative, is asking the court for “an order for the Prosecution to avail it with all relevant documents in their possession not disclosed or absent from the proof of evidence and needed for a robust defence of the matter”.

But the prosecutor, Mr. Abba Mohammed, told the court that the application was served in his office last Friday, after they had closed for work. Adding that he was just seeing that application this morning.

He stated that the documents demanded for by the defence did not have anything to do with the defendant.

He however, stated that the defendant’s application cannot stall the scheduled trial, and urged the court to proceed with the trial.

But the presiding judge, Justice Aneke, held that there is need for the court to first hear the application challenging his jurisdiction on the matter before further proceedings.

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Consequently, Justice Aneke while adjourning the matter till March 26, for hearing of the defendant’s application challenging his jurisdiction, urged the prosecutor to file and serve the defendants and to also make available all the documents requested for by the defence team.

The charges against the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice 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 thereby committed an offence contrary to section 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) of the same Act.

“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, in a transaction without going through a financial institution, made 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, which sum exceeded the amount permitted by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(1)(d) the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

“That you Olasupo Shasore, S.A.N., on or about the 18th November, 2014, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, induced one Ikechukwu Oguine, to commit an offence, to wit: accepting case 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 thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) of the same Act.”1(a) and 16(1)(d) the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under section 16(2)18(c) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) Of the same Act.

“That you Olasupo Shasore, SAN on or about the 18th day of November 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through a financial institution and made cash payment of the sum 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 offence contrary 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.

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Top Court News is a product of a dedicated Journalist, owner of I-Wahab Media The Publisher started his Journalism career with Murhi International TV, MiTV in 2003 before working with Radio Nigeria, Lagos Operation, as a Judicial Correspondent. He is presently the Chairman of the National Association of Judicial Correspondent, NAJUC, Ikeja Branch and he is the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, Radio Nigeria Chapel. topcourtnewsng.com is out to serve you with informative and educative News in the Judiciary sector. To put an end to the under reported activities of the sector among the three arms of government

CRIME

Murder Trial of Hilton Hotel Owner, Dr Adedoyin Suffers Set Back

Published

3 days ago

March 18, 2023

I-WAHAB

The trial of Hilton Hotel owner, Dr Rahman Adedoyin, and his six workers being prosecuted over the alleged murder of Obafemi Awolowo University student, Timothy Adegoke, has suffered set back as their defence counsel failed to file final written address on time.

Justice Oyebola Ojo, had adjourned till March 16 for adoption of final address by parties.

It was learnt that the counsel to the defendant failed to file their final written addresses on time, which also prevented the prosecution counsel from filing a response to enable the court proceed.

A source told journalists that the court could not seat because prosecution counsel could not respond to the addresses filed by defendants in the matter.

“The court could not sit because the defence counsel could not file their written addresses on time, hence prosecution counsel could not respond. So there are no addresses before the court to warrant it to seat for parties to adopt,” the source said.

Prosecution counsel, Fatima Adesina, who had always represented Femi Falana, SAN, in court, said the parties had agreed to meet and address the court on April 27.

CRIME

Alleged Kidnap of Chief James Uduji: Evans Trial Start Afresh

Published

4 days ago

March 16, 2023

I-WAHAB

The convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans has started afresh over alleged kidnapping and attempted murder of Chief James Uduji before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square.

Evans was re-arraigned alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus before Justice Ibironke Harrison.

They are facing five count charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder, preferred against them by Lagos State.

The case started afresh after the case file was transferred from Justice Adedayo Akintoye the initial trial judge.

Evans and his co-defendants, were arraigned for allegedly kidnapping Chief James Uduji and collecting a ransom of $1.2m dollars.

They, and others at large, allegedly committed the offence on September 7, 2015 at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

The defendants were also accused of attempted murder by allegedly firing shots at Uduji, and Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand and again shot one Mr. Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

When the matter came up for re-arraignmemt, Mr H. Owokoniran announced his appearance for prosecution, while Mr Nelson Onyejiaka held the brief of Evans lawyer who was absent and also appeared for the 2nd defendant.

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Mr A. K. Orajiuka, appeared for the 3rd defendant, while Mr Emmanuel Ochai appeared for the 4th defendant.

According to the prosecution the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 271 (3) and 230 (A) , of the criminal laws of Lagos state 2015.

However the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The case was adjourned till May 3 and 4, 2023 for trial.

CRIME

Predator Sentence To Life Imprisonment For Defiling Minor

Published

6 days ago

March 15, 2023

I-WAHAB

An Ikeja Sexual offences and Domestic Violence Court, has sentenced a predator, Stephen Francis, to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old minor.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution had sufficiently proved the three essential ingredients of defilement against the convict.

The judge said that the overwhelming narrative of the prosecution witnesses, the two exhibits tendered at Olosan Police Station and at the state CIID Panti, made by the convict voluntarily admitted his guilt.

According to her, the confessional statements of the convict were consistent with the evidence given by the survivor and her mother before the court.

“The survivor, 11 year old primary five pupil, identified the defendant in the dock as the man who sexually defiled her when he told her that his wife was calling her to run errands for her.

“The defendant took her to his house and had sex with her. She said “he took me to his room and slept with me. I went to my mother and reported to her after that we went to the police station”.

“The survivor’s testimony was consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.

“The survivor’s mother testified that she went to buy drugs for herself on the day of the incident and that she met her daughter crying by the time she got back home.

“The evidence of the prosecution witness 2 (survivor’s mother) that she examined the private part of her daughter and found sperm confirmed the narration of the survivor.

“There is no contradiction to nullify the guilt of the defendant as the evidence before the court is very clear.

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“The defendant stripped her naked and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her,” she said.

The judge further held that slight penetration amount to sexual intercourse and denial by the defendant was an afterthought.

“The defendant claimed he was at work on the day the incident happened but he failed to bring an alibi to buttress his point.

“Parents and guardians should be alive to good parenting in this present day and time.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged of the one-count charge of defilement and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.

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“The defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offence register as maintained by Lagos State,” Soladoye said.

The prosecution team- Mr Olusola Shoneye, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke and Ms Abimbola Abolade called two witnesses while the convict testified as the sole witness for defence.

They said the convict committed the offence on Aug. 12, 2020 on Fagbenro Street, Idi-Araba, Mushin in Lagos

The prosecution submitted that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.