$9.6BN P&ID DEBT: Blame PDP for the messy handling —AGF Malami

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said the Federal Government decided to negotiate with Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) because as at the time the present administration came into office, the time to appeal the judgment of the British court that awarded judgement to the company had elapsed.

Malami stated this on Sunday at a press briefing in Abuja, adding that the Federal Government decided to negotiate despite being aware that the contract for which a United Kingdom court had ordered the firm to seize $9.6bn in Nigerian assets was fraudulent.

According to him, since the previous government of the Peoples Democratic Party did not appeal, the option left for the administration as at the time was to negotiate, despite its reservations about the contract.

Malami also insisted that the previous administration and the lawyers it hired should be blamed for the court case instituted on the matter in a Nigerian court, which was struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution.

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“Even if, indeed, any case was struck out, it was out at a time when lawyers engaged by the previous administration were in charge,” he said.

Speaking on ongoing investigation into the matter, which he explained as intensive and extensive, Malami said there was no limitation on who could be invited for questioning by the relevant security agencies.

According to him, those to be probed included those who were involved in drafting and signing of the agreement, conduct, trial and other personalities of interest.

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