Court convicts fleeing Briton over alleged $9.6 billion P&ID scam

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday convicted British national James Nolan, a director in Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Ltd, in absentia over money laundering offences filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu also convicted Micad Project City Services Ltd, a subsidiary of P&ID Ltd, after finding the company guilty of multiple charges brought by the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC had arraigned Nolan and Micad Project City Services Ltd in 2022 on a 20-count charge bordering on money laundering, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence linked to the controversial $9.6 billion P&ID scandal.

What the court is saying

Delivering judgment, Justice Egwuatu convicted Nolan on all counts except Count 13, which the court struck out because the alleged offence occurred before the enactment of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

The judge held that Nolan, who absconded after being granted bail, would be sentenced once he is arrested and brought before the court through the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).

• “I am satisfied that the prosecution called credible witnesses and tendered documentary evidence to establish its case against the defendants.”

The court also convicted Micad Project City Services Ltd on Counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

Justice Egwuatu ruled that Nolan’s trial in absentia was conducted in line with Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

The judge ordered the arrest of Adam Quinn, who remains at large.

The court agreed with the EFCC that forged company documents were used to access funds linked to the companies involved in the case.

Get up to speed

According to the EFCC, Micad Project City Services Ltd is associated with P&ID Ltd and linked to Lloyd Quinn and Adam Quinn.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Nolan forged signatures to gain access to company funds after Lloyd Quinn reportedly died in 2014.

• Nolan and the company were arraigned in May 2022 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
• After meeting his bail conditions, including N100 million bail and a surety in like sum, Nolan fled Nigeria around September 2022.  He was later declared wanted by the court after failing to appear for proceedings.
• INTERPOL reportedly re-arrested Nolan in Italy on January 27, 2024, during a visit to his wife.

Although Nolan was re-arrested abroad, he has yet to be extradited to Nigeria for sentencing and further proceedings.

More insights

In its final written address, the EFCC said the investigation into the $9.6 billion P&ID claim against Nigeria was initiated following directives from the Presidency through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The commission argued that the defendants engaged in forgery and money laundering while pursuing claims against the Nigerian government.

EFCC counsel Bala Sanga argued that Lloyd Quinn could not have signed company documents in 2017 after his reported death in 2014.

The court agreed that the signatures attributed to the deceased director were forged.

Nolan had informed the court through his lawyer in January 2025 that he would not call witnesses in his defence.

The defence eventually rested its case on the prosecution’s evidence without presenting rebuttal evidence.

The judgment marks another major development in Nigeria’s long-running legal battle surrounding the controversial P&ID contract dispute.

What you should know 

The P&ID dispute became one of Nigeria’s most high-profile international arbitration cases after the company secured a multi-billion-dollar arbitral award against the Nigerian government.

• Nigerian authorities have consistently alleged that the contract and arbitration process were tainted by fraud and corruption.
• In July 2024, another Federal High Court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo ordered the winding up of two companies linked to Nolan.
• The companies, Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd, were found guilty of money laundering offences.

Their assets were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC has continued efforts to recover assets and prosecute individuals linked to the P&ID scandal.

The case remains one of the largest corruption-related legal disputes involving Nigeria in recent years.