In a significant ruling, the Commercial Court of England and Wales has determined that Supo Shasore, former attorney-general of Lagos and commissioner of justice, was not involved in corrupt activities within the context of the $11 billion arbitration award case involving Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited, a case that Nigeria contested.
This legal decision came in response to allegations by the Nigerian government, which had accused Mr. Shasore, who had been representing Nigeria as one of its lawyers in this case, of engaging in corrupt practices.
However, ruling on Monday, Justice Robin Knowles said: “Shasore has not, in my judgment, been shown to be corrupt.
“His (Shasore’s) actions are inconsistent with Nigeria’s theory that he was (corrupt).
“First, his advice to Nigeria to investigate, and allow expert evidence to be obtained, and to proceed in a timely fashion, was sound and constant.
“Second, he assisted Nigeria to succeed in its applications to the Nigerian Court.
“Third, his participation in the various settlement discussions helped reduce the figures,” Justice Knowles ruled.
“I add that in my view, Nigeria (and specifically Mr (Abubakar) Malami SAN, the (then) Attorney General) did not in truth believe Mr Shasore SAN was corrupt.
“On 21 November 2017 Mr Shasore SAN was engaged by Nigeria to represent the Ministry of Power in a $2.4bn arbitration claim by Sunrise Power and Transmission Co.
“His appointment was approved by Mr Malami SAN on 6 March 2018 and formally confirmed by Mr Malami SAN on 18 March 2018. On 1 September 2021 Mr Malami SAN approved the engagement of Mr Shasore SAN’s firm to act for Nigeria in a second arbitration brought by Sunrise, resulting from Nigeria’s failure to comply with the settlement agreement. The agreed fee was up to US$1.15m.
“Mr Malami SAN has not explained to this Court how these events are consistent with a belief on his and Nigeria’s part that Mr Shasore SAN had been corrupt, in his professional work for Nigeria in the Arbitration against P&ID.”
Shasore is facing a two-count charge bordering on bribery before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
