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Tag: P&ID

  • Alleged $9.6bn P&ID fraud: Fleeing Briton’s surety arrested

    Alleged $9.6bn P&ID fraud: Fleeing Briton’s surety arrested

    Chief George Kadiri, who stood surety for Mr James Nolan, a British national, at the centre of an ongoing $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P$ID) scam trial, has been arrested.

    Kadiri, a retired civil servant living in Gwagwalada, Abuja, was on Thursday produced before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court at the resumed hearing in the matter.

    The surety, a traditional chief in Gwagwalada, had, on Nov. 4, 2022, sought for more time within which to appear in court to show cause why his bail bond should not be forfeited.

    He made the plea in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/143/2020 filed by his lawyer, O.J. Aboge, before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, before he was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Mohammed had, on Sept. 28, 2022, revoked the N100 million bail granted to Nolan, a director in P&ID, following his refusal to appear for his trial.

    The judge, in the ruling, issued a bench warrant against Nolan, and ordered that he should be arrested by security agencies, including the Interpol, any where he is sighted within or outside Nigeria and be produced in court to stand his trial.

    The judge also directed that the surety to appear in court to show cause why his bail bond should not be forfeited.

    The order followed the application made by EFCC’s lawyer, Bala Sanga, that Nolan had jumped bail.

    However, after the case was re-assigned to Justice Lifu, Kadiri had not been coming to court and an order for his arrest was granted.

    When the case was called, Sanga said the commission had brought Kadiri to court in obedience to court order.

    “This charge here is different. I humbly apply for the bail bond should be forfeited,” he said.

    Aboge, who appeared for Kadiri, sought a date to address the court on the issue of forfeiting bail bond of N100 million.

    “The cases before Justice Egwuatu and the one here is the same.

    “I want to produce argument on the various point raised before the court,” he said.

    The lawyer then prayed the court for the surety to be released to him on bail.

    Defendants’ lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, agreed to take Kadiri on bail.

    “Chief Kadiri, the surety, is a traditional chief in Gwagwalada.

    “He will not run away. I stood surety for him at EFCC.

    “This is my first time of taking someone on bail,” Erokoro begged.

    The anti-graft agency’s lawyer neither opposed the submission made on bail nor objected to the request for an adjournment.

    | have no objection to an adjournment.

    Justice Lifu consequently adjourned the matter until Nov. 5 for further proceedings and hearing on the issue of forfeiture of bail bond entered by Kadiri.

    “Meanwhile, the surety, Chief Kadiri, is herein released to Chief Paul Erokoro, SAN, on bail to be produced in court until this issue of forfeiture of bail bond is resolved or determined by the court, I so ruled.”

    NAN reports that the anti-graft agency had, on Aug. 18, 2020, arraigned Nolan before Justice Mohammed in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/143/2020.

    While Lurgi Consult Limited is the 1st defendant, Nolan is the 2nd defendant in the matter.

    Nolan, alleged to be at large, is also standing trial in about eight other cases for his involvement in the 9.6 billion dollars controversial contract awarded to P&ID.

    Other cases listed before Justice Lifu on Thursday include charges numbers; FHC/ABJ/CR/1 44/2020, FHC/ABJ/CR/145/2020, FHC/ABJ/CR/146/2020, FHC/ABJ/CR/147/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CR/148/2020 respectively.

  • Court orders closure of 2 coys linked to $9.6bn P&ID scam

    Court orders closure of 2 coys linked to $9.6bn P&ID scam

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the closure of two companies linked to the alleged 9.6 billion dollars Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd scandal.

    The two companies are Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd linked to the fleeing Briton, Mr James Nolan.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo, in two separate judgements, held that the two companies were found guilty of the money laundering offences and were accordingly convicted under the same Act.

    Justice Okorowo, therefore, ordered that the two companies be wound up and their entire assets be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The judge had, on May 6, adjourned the two separate charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the two companies and the British national for judgment.

    Justice Okorowo fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Bala Sanga, and the defence lawyer, Michael Ajara, adopted their final written addresses and made their submissions in the matters.

    Although the charges were amended in the course of the trial after Nolan, a director in the P&ID Ltd and the two companies, jumped bail and fled Nigeria, the EFCC applied that Nolan should be tried in absentia.

    Nolan was declared wanted and an order was made for his arrest anywhere he is sighted.

    Earlier, the EFCC was prosecuting Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Nolan in the charged marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case.

    Also, the commission was also prosecuting a sister case marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2022 filed against Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Corrado Fantoli as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively before Okorowo.

    Fantoli, also a foreigner and an associate of Nolan, was one of the suspects behind the alleged $9.6 billion P&ID fraud.

    The suspect, said to be at large, alongside the company, was arraigned in absentia on Nov. 25, 2022, on eight-count money laundering charge.

    He was not present in court or represented by a lawyer when they were arraigned.

    The court also declared him wanted and ordered for his arrest anywhere he is sighted after Sanga made application to the effect.

    Fantoli and Giovanna Beccarelli, who had also been declared wanted and an arrest warrant issued against her, were said to be directors and signatories to the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0123849451.

    Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited are two of the over 30 companies associated with the $9.6 billion scam.

    Other cases linked to the scandal are currently before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Justice Peter Lifu of FHC Abuja, besides other charges at FCT High Courts.

    A Business and Property Court in London presided over by Justice Robin Knowles of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales had, in October 2023, quashed the 11 billion dollars awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by the P&ID.

    Judge Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had happened in the case was contrary to public policy.

  • Court strikes out P&ID scam case against late Grace Taiga

    Court strikes out P&ID scam case against late Grace Taiga

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out the money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against late Mrs Grace Taiga, former Director of Legal, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu struck out the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/321/2021 after Taiga’s counsel, Daniel Alumun, presented her death certificate to the court.

    Justice Egwuatu was, in the last adjourned date, informed of the demise of Taiga by her lawyer but the EFCC demanded to see the death certificate of the ex-director.

    The anti-graft agency was, however, not represented in court in today’s proceeding. The EFCC had, on Oct. 7, 2021, re-arraigned Taiga before Justice Egwuatu on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offence but pleaded not guilty to all counts.

    Taiga, an accomplice in the multiple fraud case involving Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited, was on Oct. 27, 2021, admitted to bail in sum of N30 million with two sureties in the like sum.

    She was also standing trial before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of a Federal Capital Territory High Court on allegations bordering on bribery in the Gas Supply Processing Agreement between P&ID and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    Late Taiga was among other Nigerians and foreigners being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency in the money laundering offence.

    A P&ID Director and Briton, James Nolan, was, on Jan. 27, arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Italy after he jumped bail and fled Nigeria.

    The Briton, who doubles as Irish citizen, is standing trial in the ongoing 9.6 billion dollars P&ID scandal in Nigeria.

    He is yet to be extradited back to Nigeria.

    A reliable source in the EFCC disclosed that for Nolan to continue his trial in Nigeria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the INTERPOL must liaise for his extradition.

  • P&ID scam: INTERPOL arrests fleeing Briton in Italy

    P&ID scam: INTERPOL arrests fleeing Briton in Italy

    The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has arrested a Director of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd, Mr James Nolan, on Jan. 27 in Italy.

    It was reliably gathered that Nolan, an Irish national, who jumped bail in 2022 in the ongoing 9.6 billion dollars P&ID scandal in Nigeria, was arrested by the INTERPOL while on a visit to his wife, an Italian.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s source confirmed the information.

    “Yes, we got the information through informant sources,” the official said.

    The source said the next line of action was for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply to INTERPOL for Nolan’s extradition back to Nigeria to stand his trial.

    Also, Mr Paul Erokoro, SAN, counsel to Nolan, in a telephone chat, said he had also heard about the report.

    “There is a report that James Nolan was arrested but the EFCC is actually in the better position to confirm.

    “They might have heard from INTERPOL. But I have not spoken to him (Nolan) and I don’t have firsthand confirmation but I have heard about the report,” he said.

    Nolan, who also has a British citizenship, was at the centre of the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) which was signed in 2010.

    After he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against him, a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Nov. 7, 2019, granted him a N500 million bail but the bail was later varied to N100 million due to his inability to meet the bail condition.

    However, after he perfected his bail conditions, he failed to appear in court for trial since 2022.

    A sister court, where the embattled Irish was also standing trial had, on Sept. 28, 2022, revoked his bail.

    The then presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed (now elevated to Appeal Court), in a ruling, issued a bench warrant for his arrest for jumping bail.

    Mohammed ordered that Nolan should be arrested by security agencies, including INTERPOL, anywhere he was sighted within or outside Nigeria and be produced in court to stand trial.

    “As far as this court is concerned, the absence of the second defendant (Nolan) in court implies he has jumped bail,” he had said.

    The judge gave the order after the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Mr Bala Sanga, made an application to the effect.

    He equally granted the EFCC’s request to continue his trial in absentia.

    Also a brother judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on July 6, 2023, ordered Nolan’s surety, Mr George Kadiri, to forfeit his N100 million bail bond to the Federal Government over his inability to produce the defendant in court.

    Justice Egwuatu, in a ruling after Sanga moved the motion, also ordered Mr Kadiri, who was absent in court, to be remanded in prison custody until the payment of the N100 million.

    Nolan is standing trial in about eight other cases for his alleged involvement in the controversial gas supply agreement with the Federal Government.

    The contract became subject of litigation following the award of whopping sum of 9.6 billion dollars judgment debt against Nigeria.

    While eight of the matters are before the FHC in Abuja, a case is before the FCT High Court, besides the London case.

    Meanwhile, the matter fixed for today (Thursday) before Justice Donatus Okorowo of a FHC could not proceed.

    While Sanga and Michael Ajara were in court, Justice Okorowo was said to have gone on official engagement.

    Nolan had, on Nov. 20, 2023, opened his defence in absentia without calling any witness.

    Nolan’s counsel, Mr Ajara, who had told Justice Okorowo that he did not intend to call any witness, said that after his evaluation of the evidence of the prosecution in the matter, he would be relying on the case of the prosecution.

    The judge then fixed Feb. 15 for adoption of final written addresses of parties.

    Nolan, the 2nd defendant, alongside Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited, the 1st defendant, are being prosecuted in the charged marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 for allegations bordering on money laundering offences.

    A Business and Property Court in London presided over by Justice Robin Knowles of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales had, in October 2023, quashed the 11 billion dollars awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by the P&ID Ltd.

    Judge Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had happened in the case was contrary to public policy.

  • BREAKING: London court puts final nail in the coffin of P&ID’s $11bn case

    BREAKING: London court puts final nail in the coffin of P&ID’s $11bn case

    A London High Court has put the final nail in the coffin of the $11 billion case filed by Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) against Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Judge Robin Knowles on Thursday rejected P&ID’s argument that the case should be returned for arbitration.

    In his ruling, Judge Knowles affirmed that the damages award should be thrown out completely.

    Recall that P&ID had filed an $11 billion damages case against Nigeria for a collapsed gas processing project.

    However, in October the London court presided over by Knowles ruled that the gas processing contract was procured by P&ID paying bribes to a Nigerian oil ministry official.

    In Thursday’s ruling, P&ID was also refused permission to appeal against the ruling, effectively ending the case.

    The company also cannot apply for permission from the Court of Appeal.

  • UK court orders P&ID to pay Nigeria damages within 28 days

    UK court orders P&ID to pay Nigeria damages within 28 days

    A UK court has directed Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) to pay Nigeria £20 million in damages and compensation following Nigeria’s victory in an $11 billion judgment debt.

    The court rejected P&ID’s appeal, citing reprehensible conduct, and ruled that the £20 million must be paid within 28 days.

    In October, the UK court upheld Nigeria’s claim that the gas processing contract was obtained by fraud, freeing the country from the $11 billion judgment debt.

    The court’s latest ruling enforces the payment, denying P&ID’s request for an appeal on the currency. Nigeria had sought at least £20 million to cover damages and legal fees.

  • Fleeing British national opens defence in $9.6bn P&ID scam case

    Fleeing British national opens defence in $9.6bn P&ID scam case

    The British national, Mr James Nolan, who jumped bail in the alleged 9.6 billion dollars Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd scandal, on Monday, opened his defence in absentia without calling any witness.

    Nolan’s counsel, Mr Michael Ajara, told Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja that he did not intend to call any witness upon resumed hearing in the matter.

    Ajara told the court that after his evaluation of the evidence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecution in the matter, he would be relying on the case of the prosecution.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Bala Sanga, did not object and Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter until Feb. 15 for adoption of final written addresses.

    The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Nolan in the charged marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case.

    Also, the commission is also prosecuting the sister case marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2022 filed against Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd, another company, and Corrado Fantoli as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively before Okorowo.

    Fantoli, also a foreigner and an associate of Nolan, was one of the suspects behind the alleged $9.6 billion P&ID fraud.

    The suspect, said to be at large, alongside the company, was arraigned in abtensia on November 25, 2022, on eight-count money laundering charge.

    He was not present in court or represented by a lawyer when they were arraigned.

    The court also declared him wanted and ordered for his arrest anywhere he is sighted after Sanga made application to the effect.

    Fantoli and Giovanna Beccarelli, who had also been declared wanted and an arrest warrant issued against her, were said to be directors and signatories to the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0123849451.

    Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited are two of the over 30 companies associated with the $9.6 billion scam.

    Other cases linked to the scandal are currently before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Justice Zainab Abubakar of FHC, Abuja, besides other charges at FCT High Courts.

    A Business and Property Court in London presided over by Justice Robin Knowles of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales had, in October, quashed the 11 billion dollars awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by the P&ID.

    Judge Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had happened in the case was contrary to public policy.

  • Former EFCC Chairman honoured over role in P&ID case

    Former EFCC Chairman honoured over role in P&ID case

    A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was on Saturday conferred highest honour of doctoral fellowship of the Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa (IGLSA).

    The Director-General of the Institute, Dr Lanre Adebayo, said Magu’s selection for the honour was not unconnected with his role that gave Nigeria a landmark victory at the Commercial Court of England and Wales.

    According to him, the EFCC under Magu’s leadership was able to stop the enforcement of an 11.5 billion dollars P&ID Limited arbitration award against Nigeria.

    “The commission challenged the arbitration award against the country over a failed 2010 deal to develop a gasoline processing plant within the nation.

    “At present, the Federal Government, policymakers and other critical stakeholders have hailed the triumph of Nigeria in the legal battle, bringing an end to the case between the Nigerian and the P&ID.”

    Adebayo said that deserving Nigerians, including some serving governors with quality leadership styles and friends of Nigeria were  also conferred with doctorate, fellowship and membership of the institute.

    Adebayo said the maiden edition of the investiture of new members and fellows of the institute was a bold attempt to confront the challenges of leadership deficit in Africa.

    He said it was also an attempt to commence a sustainable and tireless journey towards building a critical mass of leaders.

    He said that corruption was a major governance challenge that had undermined development in the continent and had arrested development and undermined quality service delivery in Nigeria.

    According to him, corruption is a result of leadership failure and weak governance institutions, citing the recent P&ID case which was decided in favour of Nigeria as a classical example.

    Adebayo congratulated President Bola Tinubu, for the nation’s victory over the international conspiracy to defraud her of a humongous amount of money which would have threatened the Country’s economy and undermine her democratically elected government.

    According to him, there was no way Nigeria’s economy would have survived the removal of 11 billion dollars, about one-third of her foreign reserves at once from the economy without dire consequences.

    He congratulated Magu, who as Acting Chairman of EFCC, personally led the investigation that exposed the fraud and the elite conspiracy which facilitated it.

    “We wish to especially commend him because the same elite behind the scandal attempted to destroy his brilliant career because he dared to challenge these enemies of our great Country.

    “AIG Magu staked everything to ensure that our Country got justice and her damaged reputation as a corrupt Country got a reprieve.

    “Indeed, a major implication of the judgment is that citizens of many of the countries, who usually describe Nigeria as corrupt,  have always been active in subverting and corrupting our system to pursue their fraudulent activities without any sanction by their countries.

    “Contrary to the narrative being promoted in some quarters, the EFCC under the Ibrahim Magu-led administration pursued the investigation on the matter with professionalism and high sense of patriotism.

    “The conviction of many of the local actors for their role in the fraud was the major foundation needed to secure Nigeria’s victory in the United Kingdom,” he said.

    In his acceptance speech,  the former EFCC boss said the recognition was not just a personal achievement but a testament to the collective efforts of the dedicated individuals at EFCC and all stakeholders in the fight against corruption in Nigeria .

    Magu said that fighting corruption in Nigeria was not an easy task, adding that it was a patriotic and selfless service to one’s fatherland considering the pervasiveness of corruption.

    He said the fight against corruption must be pursued with vigour, saying that corruption remained the impediment against collective progress as a nation.

    “The bane of corruption is the reason for the lack of adequate and sufficient dividends that come with democracy.

    “Eliminate corruption from the system and you are guaranteed the basic provisions that governance offers.

    “I urge the government to persevere in the relentless fight against corruption, as a corruption-free nation is the bedrock for sustainable economic growth and positive development.

    “Let us work hand in hand to break free from the vicious grip of corruption and pave the way for a brighter future for Nigeria,” he said.

    NAN reports that the investiture was chaired by a former Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, who doubles as the Chairman of the Fellowship Screening Committee.

    Gov. Mai Buni of Yobe was also conferred with Doctoral Fellows award alongside Magu.

    The honourees include the Director-General, Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Abdurazaq Garba; Managing Director, Crown Takaful Insurance Ltd, Alh. Nazir Song; a Director in the office of the SGF, Aliyu Ibrahim

    Others are the Director-General of Amalgamated APC Support Group, Hajiya Maryam Yunusa;  Ibiam Oguejior, National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Force for Presidential Executive Order No. 5

    Also, among the honourees was a Media Consultant to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Folu Olamiti.

  • P&ID scandal: Court orders for Grace Taiga’s death certificate

    P&ID scandal: Court orders for Grace Taiga’s death certificate

    An FCT High Court has ordered Mr Daniel Alumun to produce the death certificate of her client, Mrs Grace Taiga , the retired Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in the centre of the Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited scandal.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports FCT High Court presided over by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi gave the order on Friday after Mr Alumun informed the court that Mrs Taiga was dead as reported in October.

    Taiga was standing trial before Justice Adeniyi on allegations bordering on bribery in the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between P&ID and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    She was dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 13-count charge bordering on bribery, among others.

    EFCC alleged that Taiga received bribe through her offshore bank account in signing the controversial GPSA.

    The anti-graft agency further alleged that she violated various laws by entering into the Agreement without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and a certificate of no objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (PBE).

    She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her.

    Taiga was first arraigned before the court in the case marked FCT/HC/CR/504/19 on Sept 20, 2019 on an eight count charge before the charge brought against her was amended by the prosecution twice in the course of presenting the case.

    EFCC first amended the charge against the defendant on Oct. 3, 2020 to 11-count and later further amended it to 13-count on Jan. 10, 2021.

    In the course of presenting its case, the prosecution called eight witnesses to testify against the defendant and closed its case on Feb. 27, 2023, when the court directed the defendant to open her defence.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, counsel for Taiga, Alumun informed the court that the defendant died on August 1, 2023 at a hospital in Abuja.

    Alumun tendered a letter, titled, “Hospital Death Declaration”, from Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, Karu New Extension, Abuja, to notify the court of the demise of Taiga.

    In view of the development, the defence counsel, urged the court to dismiss the charge.

    However, EFCC counsel, Abba Mohammed insisted that a death certificate must be brought before the court by the defence in compliance with the law before the court could dismiss the case.

    Justice Adeniyi agreed with the submission of the prosecuting counsel and directed that a death certificate be produced before the court.

    He subsequently adjourned the case until Jan. 24, 2024 for compliance with the law by the defence.

  • BREAKING: Grace Taiga at centre of P&ID scandal reportedly dead

    BREAKING: Grace Taiga at centre of P&ID scandal reportedly dead

    Grace Taiga, the former Director of Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, accused of collecting bribes from Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited, is died.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Taiga reportedly died in September but that her demise was hidden from the public.

    According to a report, Taiga died in September 2023 after battling with kidney disease. She will be buried in December in Delta State, according to the report.

    Taiga, who served in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and defence before retiring in September 1, 2010, was widely mentioned in the ruling of a London court, quashing an $11 billion awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by P&ID.

    Judge Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had happened in the case was contrary to public policy.