The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, re-arraigned two British nationals, James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn (who is at large), before Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja for their alleged involvement in the $9.6billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) contract scam.
P&ID, an Irish engineering company, had secured a $9.6billion fine against Nigeria following the non-execution of a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA) the company had with the Nigerian government.The government, however, appealed the judgment in a London high court.
At the resumed hearing, yesterday, the defendants, both directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) and ICIL Limited, were docked on a 32-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Count 21 of the charge reads: “That you, ICIL Limited, James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large) between January and December 2008 in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, used the total sum of N52,202,392.91 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed proceed of your unlawful activities to wit: tax evasion and failure to submit Value Added Tax returns.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).”
Another count reads: “That you, ICIL Limited, James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large) between January and December 2009 in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, used the total sum of N26,366,748.91 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed proceed of your unlawful activities to wit: tax evasion and failure to submit Value Added Tax returns.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).”
After the charges were read to them, the third defendant, Nolan, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Quinn, who is at large, was not available to take his plea. But the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, requested that his plea be recorded as “guilty” which the judge granted.
In view of Nolan’s not guilty plea, Iheanacho asked the court for a trial date.
However, defence counsel, Michael Ajara, applied to the court for the defendant to continue enjoying the bail granted to him by Justice Okon Abang, which the prosecuting counsel did not oppose.Justice Okorowo thereafter adjourned the matter till December 13, 2021, for commencement of trial.