Court convicts Nolan, P&ID-linked Briton, in absentia over $9.6bn fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, convicted James Nolan, British national, who was a director linked to Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd, in absentia over allegations of money laundering, forgery and obtaining by false pretence connected to the $9.6 billion dispute involving the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Delivering judgment, Justice Obiora Egwuatu also found Micad Project City Services Ltd, a company linked to P&ID, guilty on multiple counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had arraigned Micad Project City Services Ltd and Nolan on a 20-count charge of money laundering and related offences in 2022. Both defendants pleaded not guilty but later chose not to present a defence, opting to rely on the prosecution’s case after the EFCC called six witnesses and tendered documentary evidence.

Justice Egwuatu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on witness testimony and documentary exhibits.

Nolan, who had earlier been granted bail on terms including a ₦100 million bond and a surety in the same amount, failed to attend court proceedings from around September 2022 and was later declared wanted.

The court proceeded with trial in his absence under Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

He was convicted on all counts except Count 13, which the court struck out on the basis that the alleged offence predated the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The court also upheld the forgery allegations, agreeing with the EFCC’s submission that documents allegedly signed in 2017 could not have been executed by a director who died in 2014.

Justice Egwuatu stated that sentencing will take place once Nolan is arrested and produced before the court, reportedly with the assistance of INTERPOL.

According to the EFCC, the case arose from investigations into P&ID’s $9.6 billion arbitration claim against the Federal Government, which raised concerns over alleged financial misconduct and irregularities.

Micad Project City Services Ltd was convicted on multiple counts, while Nolan was found guilty on charges linked to the same scheme.

The court also ordered the arrest of another individual, Adam Quinn, who is currently at large.

Nolan, who reportedly left Nigeria after failing to meet bail conditions, was re-arrested in Italy in January 2024 during a visit to his wife but is yet to be extradited to Nigeria for sentencing.

In separate proceedings, another court had earlier ordered the winding up of two companies linked to Nolan over money laundering convictions connected to the same P&ID-related allegations.