“At the moment, there are at least 21 ongoing criminal trials and what that means is that apart from the trials, we have 153 files, with the volume of papers running up to more than 30,000.
“We can only volunteer to give them what we can because the law says what is required is proof of evidence not proof of defence. We are more than happy to oblige them with relevant documents,” he said.
Shasore was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of corruptly offering the sum of $200,000 each to a firmer director in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Olufolakemi Adetore and a lawyer in the Ministry, Ikechukwu Oguine.
The anti-graft agency claimed in the charge that the embattled senior lawyer gave them the monies for their alleged role in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) against the federal government.
The EFCC had maintained that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 9(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the lead defence counsel, Chijioke Okoli (SAN), moved an application seeking the adjournment of the case on the ground that the defendant had filed an application dated December 2, requesting more documents from the prosecution.
But Sanga informed the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial as that was the business of the day.
He said, “The matter was adjourned until today for trial, and we have two witnesses in court and we are ready.
“We, however, confirm the receipt of the defence application and we will not be objecting as long as the defence accepts that the adjournment is at their instance.
Based on the development, Justice Dada adjourned the matter to April 4, 2023, for trial.
