In Abuja: Court remands 2 British Nationals over P&ID Scam

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of two British nationals pending the determination of their bail applications.

The two men, James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large), were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over their alleged involvement in the $9.6bn judgment obtained by Process and Industrial Development against Nigeria.

A United Kingdom court had granted P&ID, an Irish engineering company, the said amount as damages for the non-execution of a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement the company had with the Nigerian Government.

Nolan and Quinn were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering on Monday.

The judge struck out count nine on the grounds that “a court of law has no jurisdiction to entertain a charge against a non-registered person”.

Thereafter, Bala Sanga, the prosecuting counsel, asked the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendants in prison custody.

But Okwudili Anozie, defence counsel, opposed Sanga’s application and moved an oral application for bail of his clients.

Abang refused the oral application for the bail of the defendants and adjourned the matter till November 20 and November 21 for commencement of trial.(Saharareporters)