Court Approves Foreign Medical Trip for Ex-Lagos AG

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted a former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), permission to travel abroad for medical treatment

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the permission following a motion filed and argued by Shasore’s team of counsel led by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Paul Usoro, SAN, and Olawale Akoni, SAN.

They told the court that Shasore had been diagnosed with lattice retinal degeneration to both the left and right eyes as well as chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment to the right eye.

The diagnosis reports, issued by Professor Tom H. Williamson, Consultant Ophthalmologist at The London Claremont Clinic of St. Thomas Hospital London, were attached as Exhibit SS3.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Bala Sanga did not oppose the application noting that “Only the living can stand trial.”

Consequently, Justice Aneke granted the order as prayed.

 “The application praying this court’s discretion to travel for medical treatment in London, The United Kingdom dated December 30, 2022 without opposition is hereby granted as prayed

“The defendant is permitted to travel on the 18th of January and return on the 5th of February.”

The judge later adjourned the case till February 21, for trial.

The EFCC is trying the former Attorney-General of Lagos, for allegedly inducing one Olufolakemi Adelore, into accepting cash payment of the sum of $100,000, without going through a financial institution.

Shasore was also alleged to have made a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to Olufolakemi Adelore through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.

The charge also added that the former Lagos State Attorney-General also made a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.

The sum which the anti-graft agency said exceeded the amount permitted by law.

Adelore was at the time, Director, Legal, at Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, while Oguine was Secretary to the Corporation and Coordinator, Legal Services, at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to the EFCC, their involvement concerns their alleged roles in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.”