Nigeria’ Court Remands
Nigeria’ Court Remands 2 Britons in Prison Custody over
$9.6bn P&ID Scam
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today
October 21, 2019, arraigned two British nationals, James Richard
Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large), before Justice Okon Abang of the
Federal High Court, Abuja for their alleged complicity in the
controversial $9.6bn arbitral award to Process and Industrial
Development Limited by a United Kingdom commercial court.
The defendants, both directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a
Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) and ICIL Limited, were
docked on a 16 count- charge bordering on money laundering.
Count one of the charges read: “That you James Richard Nolan and
Adam Quinn(at large), sometime in December 2013 in Abuja, within
the jurisdiction of this honorable court, being Directors of Goidel
Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution(“DNFI”)
aided the said Company in failing to comply in the requirement of
submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Investments a declaration of the activities as specified under
Section 5 (1)(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as
amended and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and
punishable under Section 16 (2b) of the same Act”.
Another count reads: “That you Goidel Resources Limited,
sometime in February 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
Federal High Court being a Designated Non-Financial Institution
(“DNFI”) failed to report in writing to the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission a single lodgment of the sum of $125,000 ( One
Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, Dollar only), in your account
number 0154696732 domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as specified
under Section 10(1b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011
as amended and you thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 16(2b) of the same Act.”
After the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded ‘not
guilty’ to the charges, while Justice Abang struck out count nine
of the charge on the grounds that “a court of law has no
jurisdiction to entertain a charge against a non-registered
person”.
The prosecuting counsel, Bala Sanga asked the court for a trial
date and an order to remand the defendants in prison custody.
However, defence counsel, Okwudili Anozie moved an oral
application for the bail of his clients. Sanga objected to the oral
bail application.
“We object to the oral application of the defendant. We would be
requesting an affidavit showing cause, why the bail should be
granted”, he said.
After hearing argument of counsel, Justice Abang refused the
oral application for the bail of the defendants and adjourned to
November 20 and 21, 2019, for commencement of trial.
He ordered the remand of the defendants in prison custody,
pending the consideration of their bail applications.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity