P&ID Director Declines to Call Witness in $9.6 Billion Scam Trial

A Director with the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), James Nolan, who jumped bail in the ongoing trial linked on the alleged $9.6 billion scam on Thursday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, he would not call any witness on the matter.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had listed Micad Project City Services Limited and Nolan as defendants in the 20-count charge of money laundering.

The defendants were arraigned in May 2022.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge and Nolan was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

After he met his bail conditions of N100 million with a surety and was released following the variation of the bail from N500 million, Nolan stopped attending court proceedings and fled Nigeria.

He was declared wanted by the court and an order was made for his arrest.

The Briton was arrested by the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Italy on January 27, 2024, but was yet to be extradited back to Nigeria to face trial.

When the matter was called on Thursday, the EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga told the court that the business of the day would have been for the prosecution to call their last witness.

“But upon review of the case, we found that it is superfluous and therefore we are dispensing with the last witness,” he said.

Nolan’s counsel, Michael Ajara, said he had no objection to the EFCC lawyer’s submission.

He, however, said they would be relying on the prosecution’s case following the evaluation of the EFCC’s evidence.

Ajara said: “Based on the evidence already before the court adduced by the prosecution, we shall be resting our case on theirs.

“So we don’t intend to call any witness.”

Justice Obiorah Egwuatu adjourned the matter till March 10 for adoption of the parties’ final written addresses.