James Nolan, a British national on trial over his involvement in the Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) fraud, has waived his right to call witnesses for his defence.
Nolan is standing trial alongside a company, Micad Project City Services Limited, on a 20-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended), and criminal conversion of proceeds of crime to the tune of N151,394,328.
At the court session on Thursday, Bala Sanga, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that the business of the day would have been for the prosecution to call its last witness.
“But upon review of the case, we found that it is superfluous, and therefore we are dispensing with the last witness,” Sanga said.
Advertisement
Michael Ajara, Nolan’s counsel, did not oppose the prosecution’s submission.
Ajara told the court that the defence team would rely on the evidence and witnesses brought by the prosecution.
“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,” he said.
Advertisement
Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter until March 10 to adopt the parties’ final written addresses.
In August 2020, the EFCC arraigned Nolan, a director in P&ID Limited, alongside Lurgi Consult Limited and others, in a $9.6 billion money laundering case.
Nolan was granted bail but failed to appear in court for trial after he perfected his bail conditions.
In September 2022, a federal high court in Abuja revoked the bail and issued a bench warrant for Nolan’s arrest.
Advertisement
INTERPOL arrested the Briton on January 27, 2024, while on a visit to his wife in Italy.
Nolan is yet to be extradited to Nigeria to face trial, but the court has continued to hear the case in his absence.
Add a comment
