Recent news has been marked by a surprising decision by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) of Nigeria. As former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore, was under trial on money laundering charges, the AGF requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) to withdraw the charges against him.
The decision was announced during a hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Adviser to the EFCC, Bala Sanga, informed Justice Inyang Ekwo that his office had received a letter from the AGF requesting the withdrawal of the charges. After presenting copies of the letter to the court and defense attorneys, Sanga requested the case be withdrawn, which was accepted by the judge. As a result, the charges against Olasupo Shasore were withdrawn and he was released.
The AGF letter, signed by Mr. Fagbemi and addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, indicated that the charges against Olasupo Shasore were being reviewed in light of recent developments in the case between Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID) in Nigeria. The letter ordered the EFCC to withdraw the charges in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
This decision aroused strong reactions and questions as to the motivations of the AGF. Some believe that it could be linked to the recent annulment by the London court of the $11 billion judgment against Nigeria in the P&ID case. Olasupo Shasore represented Nigeria in the arbitration case and the court ruled that the award was fraudulently obtained.
This case highlights the issues linked to the fight against corruption in Nigeria, as well as questions of transparency and independence of the judiciary. As the country strives to strengthen its justice system and fight corruption, it is crucial that decisions made by authorities are transparent and based on the rule of law.
It remains to be seen what consequences this decision will have on the continuation of the case and on the career of Olasupo Shasore. In the meantime, this case highlights the importance of fair justice and an independent judicial system for the proper functioning of a rule of law.