Supo Shashore, a former Lagos attorney general, was arraigned on four counts of money laundering on Thursday before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
He entered a not guilty plea to each charge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Mr. Shasore of money laundering last week. Former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s first term was served by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
In the charge sheet, Mr. Shasore was accused of persuading Olufolakemi Adelore to accept a $100,000 cash payment directly from him. Additionally, he was accused of paying Ms. Adelore $100,000 in cash through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.
The anti-graft agency also alleged the senior lawyer made a cash payment of $100,000 to Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.
Mr Shasore was said to have committed the alleged offences on or about November 18, 2014. According to the EFCC, the sums exceed the amount permitted by law.
It added that the offences also contravened sections 78(c), 1(a) and 16(1)(d) and 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The offences are punishable under sections 16(6) and 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.
In January, the EFCC also interrogated Mr Shasore over his involvement in the Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) $9.6 billion judgement saga.
The senior lawyer, appointed as Nigeria’s legal representative in the P&ID case in 2012, was accused of compromising the country’s defence at a British arbitration tribunal, contributing to the humongous award issued against Nigeria by the panel.
P&ID, a British Virgin Island firm, was issued the arbitral award, which rose to $9.6 billion as compensation for Nigeria’s alleged breach of a Gas Supply Process Agreement (GSPA). The GSPA was signed by the representatives of the Nigerian government on January 11, 2010.
P&ID, in 2012, commenced arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in the United Kingdom for allegedly breaching its part of the GSPA.
Mr Shasore was appointed as counsel for Nigeria in the arbitration proceedings in 2012.
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