Court Adjourns Olasupo Shasore, SAN’s Matter, for Review

The trial of Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has been adjourned till Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, November 24, 2023, the Prosecuting Counsel, Bala Sanga, informed the court that with the recent judgement of a United Kingdom Court in which the Federal Government of Nigeria won the legal case against Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited in a London court in October 2023, there was a request from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, for a review of the case.

“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”, he said.

He thereafter, requested for an adjournment, as the Prosecution awaits the outcome of the review. 

The judgement was delivered after five years of legal fireworks, which was finally given in favour of Nigeria, as the court quashed the $11 billion arbitration award in favour of P&ID.

There was no objection raised by the lead Defence Counsel, Chijioke Okoli, SAN.

Justice Dada after considering the request, then adjourned the matter till January 24, 2024 “for further report”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Friday, October 21, 2022, arraigned Mr Shasore, SAN on a two-count charge bordering on alleged bribery of public officers, which is contrary to and punishable under Section 9(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, on or about the 18th day of November, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly gave the sum of USD100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to one 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 Limited (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources”.

The second count reads: “That you, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, on or about the 18th day of November, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly gave the sum of USD100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to one 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 Limited (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources”.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.