Alleged $9.6bn P&ID fraud: EFCC tenders more evidence against MICAD, Nolan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 11, 2024, tendered more evidence against MICAD Project City Services Limited and James Nolan before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

This development was announced in a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale.

Ripples Nigeria reports that Micad Project City Services Limited and James Nolan are standing trial on a 20-count charge of obtaining by false pretense, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and criminal conversion of proceeds of crime to the tune of N151,394,328.00.

At Monday’s court session, the Prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga informed the court that the EFCC had filed additional evidence before the court on February 20, 2024 and defense counsel, Micheal Ajara confirmed that they have been served the evidence.

To this end, Sanga presented the third prosecution witness, PW3, Nnedimma Irene Eyisi, a lawyer. She told the court how James Nolan informed her that he needed to renew himself as the Director of MICAD.

“Sometimes in 2016, my principal informed me that a client will give me a form to file a CAC document. Later that day, I received a call from a client who introduced himself as James Nolan, he informed me he needed to renew himself as the Director of the company. I asked him to give me details about the directors of the company and he did. I informed him I will prepare a CAC Form 7, so that the required directors will sign”, she said.

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Narrating further, she said, “a couple of weeks later, our secretary informed me that I have some documents which contained CAC form 7 appointing James Nolan as the director, a consent letter accepting to be a director by James Nolan. On receiving these documents, I proceeded to CAC and after a couple of days, I checked back and the application was approved. I made the necessary payment and submitted. I came back days later to collect the CTC of these documents. I packaged it and gave it out for dispatch, I called the client and informed him that the documents are ready”, she said.

The witness further informed the court that she could recognize the document on sight, adding that it bears the name of James Nolan.

Eyisi also said that she was invited by the EFCC in respect of the CAC form 7 and wrote a statement on August 31, 2021 which reflected her name. Sanga then applied to the court for the document to be admitted in evidence. The defense counsel did not object to the application.

Justice Egwuatu admitted the document in evidence and marked it as Exhibit J.

In the course of cross-examination, Eyisi confirmed that she dispatched the form for the company and the relevant directors to sign, adding that “CAC form 7 must return all signed and I submitted them all. All I know is that the documents were returned, signed by all directors and the new director.”

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to March 12, 2024 for continuation of hearing.

At the last session on January 18, 2024, second prosecution counsel, PW2, Hussain Babangida informed the court how directors of Micad City Services Ltd absconded with about N39,450,224.23 (Thirty-Nine million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira, twenty-three kobo) owed as taxes to the Federal government using fake signatures.

By Babajide Okeowo

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