Court grants Shasore permission to travel abroad for medicare

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, granted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olasupo Shasore, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke gave the go-ahead following a motion filed and argued by Shasore’s team of lawyers, led by a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Paul Usoro (SAN) and Olawale Akoni (SAN).

They told the court that Shasore had been diagnosed with lattice retinal degeneration to both the left and right eyes, as well as chronic rheumatologenous retinal detachment to the right eye.

The diagnosis reports, issued by Prof. Tom H. Williamson, Consultant Ophthalmologist at The London Claremont Clinic of St. Thomas Hospital London, were attached as Exhibit SS3.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bala Sanga, did not oppose the application, noting that, “only the living can stand trial.”

Consequently, Justice Aneke granted the order as prayed.

“The application praying this court’s discretion to travel for medical treatment in London, Britain dated December 30, 2022 without opposition is hereby granted as prayed.
“The defendant is permitted to travel on January 18 and return on February 5,” the judge ruled.

He later adjourned the case till February 21 for trial.

The anti-graft agency is trying the former Attorney-General of Lagos, for allegedly inducing one Olufolakemi Adelore, into accepting cash payment of the sum of $100,000, without going through a financial institution.

Shasore was also alleged to have made a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to Olufolakemi Adelore through Auwalu Habu and Wole Aboderin.

The charge also added that the accused also made a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 to one Ikechukwu Oguine without going through a financial institution.

The sum, which EFCC, said exceeded the amount permitted by law.

Adelore was at the time, Director, Legal, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, while Oguine was Secretary to the Corporation and Coordinator, Legal Services, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to the anti-graft body, their involvement concerns their alleged roles in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.