Former Lagos attorney general Supo Shashore was on Thursday arraigned before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on a four-count charge of money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed money laundering charges against Mr Shasore. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) served in the first term of former Governor Babatunde Fashola. 

In the charge sheet, Mr Shasore was alleged to have induced Olufolakemi Adelore to accept a cash payment of $100,000 without going through a financial institution. He was also alleged to have made a cash payment of $100,000 to Ms Adelore through two persons, 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.