A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday dismissed the application for bail variation filed by James Richard Nolan, a Briton facing charges in the alleged Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) scam.
Justice Okon Abang, who dismissed the prayer, said the application was lacking in merit and adjourned the case to today for continuation of trial.
The judge wondered why Nolan could not respond to the serious allegation levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he forged resident permit and that if granted bail, he might jump bail.
The judge said the court took a risk in admitting him to bail in the first instance.
The court had earlier admitted Nolan to bail in the sum of N500m with a surety in like sum, who must be a Nigerian and a serving senator not standing any criminal trial in any court in Nigeria.
The proposed surety is also expected to submit a three years tax clearance certificate and sign an undertaking to always be present in court with the defendant throughout the duration of the trial.
The EFCC arraigned Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large), both British nationals, on a 32-count charge over their alleged complicity in the $9.6bn judgment against Nigeria along with two companies, Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) and ICIL Limited, where Nolan and Quinn are said to be directors. The charges included allegations of tax evasion and failure to submit tax returns.
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