The Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to a
former director of legal affairs at Nigeria’s petroleum ministry,
Grace Taiga, who was arraigned for her alleged involvement in the
controversial Process and Industrial Development (P&ID)
contract with Nigeria.
The court in a ruling on Wednesday said the prosecution failed
in providing reasons why the defendant should not be granted
bail.
Mrs Taiga had been accused of facilitating the controversial
contract and securing gratification of over $20,000 while she
served at the ministry in 2010.
The contract between Nigeria and P&ID, an Irish firm,
resulted in a $9 billion judgement debt against Nigeria by a court
in the United Kingdom.
The UK court found Nigeria guilty of failing to comply with the
terms of the contract.
The Nigerian government filed a separate suit against P&ID’s
global firm and its Nigerian subsidiary at a Nigerian court. This
resulted in a court order for the Nigerian government to seize
assets belonging to P&ID in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari also described the 2010 contract as
an outright scam on Tuesday at the UN.
On Wednesday, the FCT High Court where Mrs Taiga had been
arraigned granted her bail with a bond of N10 million and two
sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be resident in Abuja and should deposit
affidavit of means before the court.
The court presided over by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi however
ruled that it would not make any order for Mrs Taiga to submit her
international passport because of her health condition.
The court said Mrs Taiga should nonetheless not leave the
country without first informing the court.
She is also expected to inform her sureties if she has any need
to travel for her medication.
Mrs Taiga’s lawyer, Ola Olanikpekun, said the defendant has
chronic diabetes and has battled high blood pressure among other
illnesses.
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