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