• FG tightens noose on P&ID, moves to register judgment against Irish firm in London

• Nigerian legal team departs for London with three-point agenda

by Yusuf Alli,


A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore may face trial for his alleged role in the $9.6billion debt judgment against Nigeria.

Belgore is alleged to have provided legal consultancy service to the Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) during the case that got it the debt judgement.

He has already been quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the matter.

Also quizzed is his secretary.

A team of legal giants left Abuja yesterday to hold talks with the nation’s offshore lawyers preparatory to the resumption of the legal battle to reverse the debt judgment on Thursday.

The team left with a three-point agenda: seeking the leave of the court to set aside the $9.6b damages, seeking a stay of execution of the award and appealing the judgement.

Several other people may also be arraigned with Ex-CJN Belgore, The Nation gathered yesterday.
A total of 18 past and present government officials have been linked with the signing of the alleged agreement with P&ID.

However, only one of them, a former Director, Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga, has so far been taken to court.

She was arraigned before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday.

Sources said the EFCC has concluded investigation on more suspects and recommended them for trial.

One source said anyone who is implicated during investigation will face trial.

Another source said: “The case at hand is serious. Many suspects conspired to create this problem for the country. We will arraign more people and companies in court.

“The final outcome of the investigation will determine the fate of ex-CJN Belgore. If he is found guilty, we might put him in the dock with others. The law is no respecter of anybody.”

When contacted, the EFCC’s prosecution lawyer, Mr. Bala Sanga (a former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Adamawa State), said: “We are going to give it everything to get to the root of this criminal conspiracy.

“We will prosecute anybody found culpable after the conclusion of our investigation.”

The Federal Government, it was also gathered, has perfected plans to register in London last Wednesday’s judgment in Nigeria against Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) in line with UK’s law on Registration of Foreign Judgment.

If the registration scales through, P&ID will forfeit all its assets in Nigeria and in the UK, including the $9.6billion damages to the Federal Government.

Investigation showed that Nigeria’s legal team departed Abuja yesterday for consultations with the nation’s offshore lawyers in London.

The Federal Government also rejigged the legal team by dropping some of those who appeared on its behalf in the past in the case.

A reliable source said: “We have tinkered with the legal team; we now have a tighter group which will work with our offshore lawyers.

“We will build our case on the conviction of P&ID by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court for fraud, money laundering, bribery and tax evasion among others.

“The granting of an order forfeiture of assets of P&ID is more important to us. We will take advantage of the UK’s law on Registration of Foreign Judgments to register Justice Ekwo’s verdict on P&ID.

“Once we succeed in registering the judgment, all assets of P&ID, including the so-called $9.6billion will belong to Nigeria.”

Asked of what Nigeria would be tabling before the court in London, the source said: “We have a three-point agenda including seeking the leave of the court to set aside the $9.6b damages; a stay of execution of the award; and going to an appellate court if Nigeria’s application is refused.
“Seeking the leave of the court is not a matter of right, you have to argue for it on the point of law. This is why our team is battle ready.

The founder of Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID), Michael Quinn admitted to have had audience with the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Shehu Ladan and 15 others over the Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA).

He also said he wrote ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and a former Special Adviser to President on Petroleum Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah on certain developments on the failed project.

He was silent on whether or not the ex-President, Diezani and Egbogah played any roles.

But he admitted that the Arbitration, which led to the $9.6billion judgment debt, was entered into by the Jonathan administration with the knowledge of Diezani.

He said on 19 September 2012 he wrote to the Minister for Petroleum Resources nominating P&ID’s choice of Arbitrator, the Sir Anthony Evans.

He said on 30 November 2012 the Government wrote to inform P&ID of the appointment of Chief Bayo Ojo as the Government’s arbitrator.

Despite the fact that he said there was a meeting earlier on 12 October 2012 at the “office of the Government’, he said he would not want to divulge what transpired.

But Quinn included the list of the 18 key actors/ players in the contract in his in a witness statement tabled before the Arbitration Tribunal.
He said the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the project was done on July 22, 2009.

https://thenationonlineng.net/9-6b-judgment-ex-cjn-belgore-others-may-face-trial/

After 6 months of not going to church


Finally am in church today

Aleluya

Stupid country! Soon it will divided.

Stupid country! Soon it will divide

Say na belgore wey no fit talk/walk again una Wan carry go court d man is freaking old

I think the Nigerian legal team and the govt are getting cocky on this 1.... just saying though, what do I know.

Coneheaded structures haff heard and seen three names that's if significant interest to them just like their beloved amala and ewedu....your guesses are as good as mine.

Soon they will flood this place to tell everyone the life history of these three people and fill the arena with their nitrogenous ewedu and sulphuric acidic gbegiri gas



lzaa immhotep bastardmod adaibeku greenback

The same Belgore is also on Buharis economic council.

Homeboiy:
After 6 months of not going to church


Finally am in church today

Aleluya

Guess its not a Pentecostal church.

Is it should? Or Must be tried..

otokx:


Guess its not a Pentecostal church.

Catholic

Talk is cheap..talkers are more cheaper and noise is the cheapest.... Nigeria government too dey talk.. Action is louder than talk..

Centcanada:
Stupid country! Soon it will divide

Now you are sad Nigeria is finally getting a way out of this mess.
You all are bad news addict
Because you hate Buhari, you wish your country bad
No wonder your life is as it is

xnsandrxns:

Now you are sad Nigeria is finally getting a way out of this mess.
You all are bad news addict
Because you hate Buhari, you wish your country bad
No wonder your life is as it is

Finally getting out of what? Funny dude. You think it's by propaganda? They will soon start seizing your assets.

I made 1st page. Happy Sunday

Hmm

xnsandrxns:

Now you are sad Nigeria is finally getting a way out of this mess.
You all are bad news addict
Because you hate Buhari, you wish your country bad
No wonder your life is as it is

Do you know him in person because I don't see any reasonable persons supporting Buhari led APC Government.

GMbuharii:
Coneheaded structures haff heard and seen three names that's if significant interest to them just like their beloved amala and ewedu....your guesses are as good as mine.

Soon they will flood this place to tell everyone the life history of these three people and fill the arena with their nitrogenous ewedu and sulphuric acidic gbegiri gas



lzaa immhotep bastardmod adaibeku greenback

Chooi

They all should face trial. I don't like the "may" face trial language

SniperSmurf:
The same Belgore is also on Buharis economic council.

Which economic council please?
Confidently vomiting disinformation
Shame on you

naijapips04:


Finally getting out of what? Funny dude. You think it's by propaganda? They will soon start seizing your assets.

This shows how dumb smart you are

MPESA:



Do you know him in person because I don't see any reasonable persons supporting Buhari led APC Government.

I don't need to know him in person to know you two are drinking from the same mud

Homeboiy:
After 6 months of not going to church


Finally am in church today

Aleluya

U no ever reach sef, mine is 3 years now and I am thinking of being a Muslim

xnsandrxns:

Now you are sad Nigeria is finally getting a way out of this mess.
You all are bad news addict
Because you hate Buhari, you wish your country bad
No wonder your life is as it is

getting out of what By blackmailing and intimidating people who couldn't explain two dead men's intentions?

Jabioro:
Talk is cheap..talkers are more cheaper and noise is the cheapest.... Nigeria government too dey talk.. Action is louder than talk..

ALL NA INITIAL GRA GRA , EVERYBODY WAN CHOP FROM D MOBEY.

Jabioro:
Talk is cheap..talkers are more cheaper and noise is the cheapest.... Nigeria government too dey talk.. Action is louder than talk..

ALL NA INITIAL GRA GRA , EVERYBODY WAN CHOP FROM D MONEY.

We are happy to know that the Federal government is fighting back, this is a battle that PMB and his team must win for Nigeria and every one that caused this pain to our generation who is still alive must be brought to book