The Worldwide Legal Police Organisation stated it has arrested a Director of Course of and Industrial Growth Ltd, Mr James Nolan, in Italy.
Nolan, who’s an Irish nationwide, reportedly jumped bail in 2022 within the ongoing $9.6 billion P&ID scandal in Nigeria.
He was, nonetheless, arrested by the INTERPOL whereas on a go to to his spouse, an Italian, on January 27, the Information Company of Nigeria.
An Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee supply confirmed this to NAN.
The EFCC official claimed, “Sure, we acquired the knowledge by way of informant sources.”
In response to the supply, the Ministry of International Affairs deliberate to request Nolan’s extradition from INTERPOL to face trial in Nigeria.
Counsel for Nolan, Paul Erokoro, in a phone chat, stated he had additionally heard about Nolan’s arrest, noting that solely the EFCC can verify
“There’s a report that James Nolan was arrested however the EFCC is definitely in a greater place to substantiate. They may have heard from INTERPOL.
“However I’ve not spoken to him (Nolan) and I don’t have firsthand affirmation however I’ve heard in regards to the report,” Erokoro stated.
In response to NAN report, Nolan was on the centre of the controversial Fuel Provide Processing Settlement which was signed in 2010.
Following his arraignment and plea of not responsible to the fees, a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, on November 7, 2019, initially granted him bail within the sum of N500 million.
Nonetheless, as a consequence of his incapability to satisfy the bail circumstances, the bail quantity was later lowered to N100 million.
In the meantime, after perfecting his bail circumstances, he failed to seem in courtroom for trial since 2022.
One other courtroom, the place Nolan was additionally going through authorized proceedings, revoked his bail on September 28, 2022.
The choose on the time, Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has since been promoted to the Courtroom of Enchantment), issued a bench warrant for his arrest as a consequence of bail violation.
Mohammed ordered safety businesses, together with INTERPOL, to arrest him wherever he was sighted inside or outdoors Nigeria and be produced in courtroom to face trial.
The order was made after the anti-graft company’s lawyer, Mr Bala Sanga, made an utility to the impact.
The choose additionally granted the EFCC’s request to proceed his trial in absentia.
“So far as this courtroom is worried, the absence of the second defendant (Nolan) in courtroom implies he has jumped bail,” he had stated.
On July 6, 2023, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, additionally ordered Nolan’s guarantor, Mr. George Kadiri, to give up his N100 million bail cash to the Federal Authorities as a consequence of his failure to deliver the defendant to courtroom.
Egwuatu, in a choice after Sanga introduced the movement, additionally directed Mr. Kadiri, who wasn’t in courtroom, to be held in jail till he pays the N100 million.
NAN studies that Nolan is standing trial in about eight different circumstances for his alleged involvement within the controversial fuel provide settlement with the Federal Authorities.
However the contract grew to become the topic of litigation following the award of a whopping sum of %9.6 billion in judgment debt in opposition to Nigeria.
Whereas eight of the issues are earlier than the FHC in Abuja, a case is earlier than the FCT Excessive Courtroom, moreover the London case.
In the meantime, the matter was fastened for right this moment (Thursday) earlier than Justice Donatus Okorowo of a FHC couldn’t proceed.
Whereas Sanga and Michael Ajara have been in courtroom, Justice Okorowo was stated to have gone on official engagement.
Nolan had, on November 20, 2023, opened his defence in absentia with out calling any witnesses.
Nolan’s counsel, Ajara, who had advised Justice Okorowo that he didn’t intend to name any witness, stated that after he evaluates the proof of the prosecution within the matter, he can be counting on the case of the prosecution.
The choose then fastened February 15 for the adoption of the ultimate written addresses of the events.
Nolan, the second defendant, alongside Trinity Biotech Nigeria Restricted, the primary defendant, is being prosecuted within the cost marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 for allegations bordering on cash laundering offences.
A Enterprise and Property Courtroom in London presided over by Justice Robin Knowles of the Business Courts of England and Wales, in October 2023, annulled the $11 billion awarded in opposition to Nigeria in a case filed by the P&ID Ltd.
Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had occurred within the case was opposite to public coverage.
NAN
