Justice
Justice
FG Slams Fresh Charges Against British National over
$9.6bn P&ID Scam.
The federal government has slammed six separate criminal charges
against a British national Mr James Nolan and six other companies
over their alleged involvement in the $9.6B Process and Industrial
Development (P&ID) “contract scam”.
P&ID, an Irish engineering company, had secured a $9.6B
award against Nigeria following the non-execution of a 20-year gas
and supply processing agreement (GSPA) the company had with the
federal government.
The federal government has however appealed the judgment in a
London high court.
At the court session on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Nolan alongside Lurgi Consult
LTD on 8 counts (FHC/ABI/CR/143/20) of money laundering.
In the second charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/144/20 he is answering to
five counts alongside Kristholm Nigeria LTD.
In the third charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/145/20), Marshpeal Nigeria ltd
and Nolan are faced with six counts.
In another charge (FHC/ABI/CR/146/20) the EFCC preferred six
counts against Nolan and Babcock Electrical Projects LTD.
Also, the British national is answering to a six-count charge
(FHC/ABI/CR/147/20) together with LIR Resources Nigeria LTD.
In the sixth charged marked FHC/AB)/CR/148/20, Nolan and
Ecophoenix Nigeria LTD are faced with a six-count charge.
Nolan who is a director in all the companies charged alongside
with him pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Although the six companies had no legal representation, the
court entered a ‘not guilty’ plea for them.
Adam Quinn and Neil Murray who are also directors in the
companies but currently are on the run were also mentioned in the
charges.
Bala Sanga, EFCC counsel said the commission will file an
application for the arrest of Quinn and Murray to get them to stand
trial.
Moving an oral application for bail, Mr Paul Erokoro SAN,
counsel to Nolan urged the court to adopt the bail conditions
previously granted to his client in a sister case marked
FHC/ABJ/239/2019 which was filed before Justice Okon Abang, a
federal high court judge.
Since the application for bail was not opposed by EFCC, Justice
Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the federal high court adopted the previous
bail conditions.
The case has been adjourned to October 5 for commencement of
trial.