The Nigerian delegation has left to the United Kingdom to discuss with the legal team on strategies in dealing with the recent development regarding the $9.6bn P&ID contract judgment, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, announced on Sunday.
“All cards are on table but it all depends on the beneficial that has potency for setting aside the award having regards to the applicable law in the circumstances,” Malami said in a statement.
He was shedding light as to whether the Nigerian delegation leaving for UK was to file a new case based on the new realities that the contract was a fraud or would build on the previous judgment.
Nigeria is contesting the judgment slammed on it by a UK court in favour of P&ID over a gas deal violation. The case is listed for 26 September in the UK.
Malami announced last week of government plans to head to court based on an established fraud following outcomes of investigations.
The chief law officer also disclosed an ongoing extensive investigation on everyone that played a role in the failed contract. This is to enable government establish whether there was a criminal conspiracy.
But in the mailed statement on Sunday through his media aide, Jubrilu Gwandu, Malami said no possibility is ruled out including “possibility of filling new case and or using existing proceedings to seek relief of setting aside the award (of the contract)”.
Just last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the forfeiture of assets belonging to Process and Industrial Development Limited (Incorporated in Virgin Island) and its Nigerian affiliate, P&ID Nigeria Ltd, to the Federal Government.
The court equally issued an order winding up the activities of the two companies in Nigeria after finding them guilty of economic sabotage, tax evasion and money laundering in respect of the suspicious contract.
Authorities say revelations so far from investigations have strengthened Nigeria’s position in the case which is aggressively being pursued.
P&ID has, however, described the ruling as fraudulent and entirely illegitimate.
Onyinye Nwachukwu, Abuja
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