The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 11 for judgment in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against James Nolan, a director in Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date on Friday after counsel to the EFCC, Bala Sanga, and defence lawyer, Michael Ajara, adopted their final written addresses and presented arguments for and against the case.
Nolan, a British national, is standing trial over allegations linked to the controversial P&ID scandal.
Reports that Nolan had earlier informed the court on Jan. 16, 2025, that he would not call any witnesses in his defence.
Through his lawyer, Ajara, Nolan told the court he would rely solely on the evidence already presented by the prosecution and would not introduce additional evidence.
Following the submission of the parties, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter for adoption of final written addresses.
However, the case experienced several adjournments before the court eventually fixed May 11 for judgment.
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The EFCC had arraigned Nolan alongside Micad Project City Service, a subsidiary of P&ID Ltd, in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/9/22.
The defendants were first arraigned in May 2022, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nolan was initially remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application.
He was later granted bail in the sum of N100 million with a surety in like sum after meeting the bail conditions.
However, Nolan subsequently stopped attending court proceedings and fled the country around September 2022.
Following his disappearance, the court declared him wanted and issued an order for his arrest wherever he might be found.
The EFCC later applied for the trial of the defendant in absentia, which the court granted.
Nolan was reportedly re-arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation in Italy on Jan. 27, 2024, during a visit to his wife.
He is yet to be extradited to Nigeria to continue his trial.
Meanwhile, a sister court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, on July 3, 2024, ordered the winding up of two companies linked to Nolan over their involvement in the P&ID fraud.
In two separate judgments, Justice Okorowo held that the companies were guilty of money laundering and ordered that their assets be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The companies affected are Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd.
