A former Attorney General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shashore, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a four-count charge of money laundering.

Shashore was arraigned on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

He served as the Attorney General of Lagos State and the Commissioner for Justice during the tenure of Babatunde Fashola as the governor.

The prosecution accused the defendant of inducing one Olufolakemi Adetore to accept cash payment without going through a financial institution.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Bala Sanga, urged the court to order a remand of the defendant in custody pending trial.

However, the defence counsel, Mr C.A Candide-Johnson, SAN, who appeared with Messrs Muiz Banire, SAN, Adesegun Adebola, SAN, and Chijioke Okoki, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendant bail on his self-recognisance.

The defence counsel averred that the defendant personally walked into the court for his arraignment this morning without any reminder, compulsion, or force.

He also informed the court that the defendant had cooperated with the anti-graft agency whenever required, as he had always made himself as well as documents requested from him available whenever required.

The defence counsel added that an investigation of the matter had been on for the past three years, adding that the defendant is not a flight risk.

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He, therefore, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of defence.

The prosecutor on his part said he was not opposed to bail, adding that the concern of the prosecution is only for the defendant to be available to stand trial as lawfully required.

Following the submissions by counsel, the court stood down the matter for a while, so as to deliver a ruling on the bail application.

In his ruling, Justice Aneke said: “There is no doubt that the court must strike a balance based on the evidence before it, between the constitutional rights of the defendant to liberty and presumption of innocence and the rights of the state to prosecute its erring citizens.

“Hence, the overriding need by the court to ensure that the complainant/respondent is not incapacitated in the discharge of its function by not releasing the defendant on bail.”

The judge held that exercising the court’s discretion in granting bail, in favour of the applicant, would better serve the course of justice, saying an accused is presumed innocent until guilt is proven.

“The defendant’s application for bail succeeds and the bail is accordingly granted in the following terms:

“Defendant applicant is admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

“The surety must be a serving director or a permanent secretary in the service of the federation or the Lagos State Government.

“Surety to produce two copies each of his or her recent passport photograph and evidence of payment of tax or tax clearance.

“The defendant’s international passport with the complainant shall be deposited with the registrar of this court pending trial; This is the ruling of the honourable court,” Justice Aneke said.

Meanwhile, the court did not make any remand orders on the defendant who was already on bail.

The court, however, released him to his lawyers pending the perfection of his bail.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the case until November 24 for trial.

In the charge, the former Attorney General was alleged to have made a cash payment of 100,000 dollars to one Olufolakemi Adelore through one Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.

He was alleged to have committed the offences on or about November 18, 2014.

The EFCC also alleged that the defendant made a cash payment of 100,000 dollars to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.

The offences contravene the Provisions of Sections 1(a) 16(1)(d), 18(c) and 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

The Star