The hearing in two separate money laundering cases brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against British national James Nolan was postponed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, who was set to hear the final written submissions from both parties, had to adjourn the case due to the failure of Nolan’s attorney, Michael Ajara, to submit the required documents to EFCC's counsel, Bala Sanga.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Justice Okorowo had previously set Nov. 20, 2023, as the date for final submissions, after Nolan—who had fled Nigeria in connection with the alleged $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd. scandal—opened his defense without presenting any witnesses.
During the last hearing, Ajara informed the court that he had no intention of calling witnesses after reviewing the evidence presented by the EFCC, instead relying on the prosecution's case. Sanga did not raise any objections, and the court then set the next hearing to adopt final written addresses.
However, when the case was called on Wednesday, it became clear that Ajara had not submitted the final written address, causing the hearing to be delayed.
The attorney requested the court for additional time to complete the necessary procedures. Christie Makar, representing the anti-graft agency, EFCC, on behalf of Bala Sanga, did not oppose the lawyer's oral request for an adjournment.
Consequently, Justice Donatus Okorowo postponed the hearing until May 6 to allow for the submission of final written addresses.
The EFCC is prosecuting Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and James Nolan in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022, where they are named as the first and second defendants.
Additionally, the EFCC is also handling a related case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2022 against Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Corrado Fantoli, who are also listed as the first and second defendants, respectively. This case is tied to the alleged $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) scandal.
Fantoli, an associate of Nolan and one of the suspects in the P&ID fraud, has been declared wanted after he failed to appear in court for his arraignment on Nov. 25, 2022. He and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd were charged in absentia with eight counts of money laundering. The court issued a warrant for his arrest, instructing law enforcement to apprehend him wherever he is found.
Fantoli, along with Giovanna Beccarelli, also declared wanted, were identified as directors and signatories to the company's Guaranty Trust Bank account number 0123849451. Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited are just two of over 30 entities implicated in the $9.6 billion fraud case.
