A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted a fleeing British national, James Nolan, over his involvement in the controversial $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) fraud case.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, delivering judgment on Monday, found Nolan guilty in absentia on multiple counts bordering on money laundering, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.
The court also convicted Nolan’s co-defendant, Micad Project City Services Limited, on several counts linked to the fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Nolan and the company in 2022 on a 20-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/9/2022.
During the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits to support its case.
Counsel to the defendants, Michael Ajara, chose not to present any defence witnesses, opting instead to rely on the prosecution’s evidence.
Justice Egwuatu held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the defendants.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution called credible witnesses and tendered documentary evidence to establish its case against the defendants,” the judge ruled.
The court convicted Nolan on all counts except Count 13, which was struck out because the alleged offence occurred before the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Justice Egwuatu further ruled that Nolan, who absconded after being granted bail, would be sentenced upon his arrest and return to Nigeria through the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
The judge also upheld the prosecution’s forgery allegations, agreeing with EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga, that documents purportedly signed by the late Lloyd Quinn in 2017 were fraudulent since Quinn had died in 2014.
“Except the late Lloyd Quinn resurrected, he could not have signed the documents attributed to him three years after his death,” the prosecution had argued.
The court agreed, holding that the signatures were forged.
Justice Egwuatu further ruled that Nolan’s trial in absentia was valid under Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Nolan was initially remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment but was later granted bail in the sum of N100 million after meeting the court’s conditions.
However, he reportedly fled Nigeria in September 2022, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The fugitive Briton was later re-arrested by INTERPOL in Italy on January 27, 2024, during a visit to his wife, but he has yet to be extradited to Nigeria.
In a related development, another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Donatus Okorowo, had on July 3, 2024, ordered the winding up of two companies linked to Nolan over their role in the P&ID scandal.
The companies — Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd — were found guilty of money laundering offences, with their assets ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
