Money laundering: EFCC asks court to dismiss former Attorney General’s application challenging jurisdiction

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested that the Federal High Court in Lagos dismiss an application filed by former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Supo Shasore (SAN), challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try him on money laundering allegations.

The EFCC further stated that the defendant’s attempt to challenge the court’s jurisdiction will not be in the best interests of justice if granted.

These submissions were contained in the Commission’s response to the application of the defendant filed and served on Feb. 17th.

The defendant’s counsel, Chijioke Okoli (SAN) has however told the court that the EFCC’s counter-affidavit was not ripe for hearing as the defendant had only been served last week Thursday and would need more time to file his response.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke agreed with the defence counsel and subsequently adjourned to June 26 for the hearing of all pending applications.

Shasore was arraigned by the EFCC on October 29, 2022, on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $100,000.

The EFCC in the counts accused him of accepting, transacting and making cash payments of the sum of $100,000 without going through a financial institution, which exceeds the amount authorised by law.

He pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

At the last sitting of the court on Feb. 21, the EFCC prosecutor, Abba Mohammed, asked the court to allow him to call his witness to testify in the matter.

However, Shasore’s lawyers led by Olawale Akoni and Chijioke Okoli, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), told the court that their client had filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

Shasore’s application challenging the court’s jurisdiction is basically “a motion to strike out the charge for want of jurisdiction.”

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.”

The EFCC in its response has however said that all necessary documents within the custody of the Commission have been availed to the Defendant/Applicant vide a letter dated 3rd March, 2023 to his counsel, Messrs. Wale Babalakin and Co.