Nigerian High Court Orders Arrest Of British National Over $9.6Billion P&ID Fraud

The Federal High Court In Abuja has ordered the arrest of a British national, James Nolan, for jumping bail.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the arrest of Nolan, a director in the Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) on Wednesday after he failed to appear for trial.

Nolan along with Lurgi Consult Limited and others is facing trial for allegedly laundering $9.6 billion.

Justice Mohammed ordered Nolan’s surety to appear in court on the next adjourned date to justify why his bond should not be forfeited, saying his bail had been revoked after he broke the terms of his bail conditions.

He, therefore, issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga, expressed disappointment at the absence of Nolan in court and dismay that the first defendant, Lurgi Consult Limited, had never been represented in court, as a corporate body, since the matter started.

Meanwhile, defence counsel, Micheal Ajara said he did not know the whereabouts of his client but pleaded with the court for more time to find out what happened.

He said Nolan had always appeared in court except for when he was ill during the last adjourned date.

“His medical report shows that he has bipolar, a history of mental illness and it is uncertain if the defendant is fine,” he said.

He, however, added that his team had notified the police and the prosecution team about his client’s disappearance.

But Justice Mohammed said what was clear to the court was that “the second defendant is nowhere to be found”.

He subsequently revoked the bail of the second defendant and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.