The EFCC on Thursday brought a 32 count amended charge and amended proof of evidence against a Briton James Nolan, British citizen standing trial for his alleged link in the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) contract scam.
Nolan was on October 21, arraigned alongside another Briton, Adam Quinn (at large), over their alleged complicity in the activities of P&ID, which recently won a $9.6 billion judgment against Nigeria.
The defendants, both directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) and ICIL Limited, were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.
In the 32 amended count charges, the defendants and the two companies, were accused of money laundering, tax evasion and failure to disclose their activities to the Federal
At the resumed trial on Thursday, in the middle of cross examination of the witness, counsel to the defendants, Paul Erokoro SAN, sought to tender the said written statement made at the EFCC so as to assist the court arrive at a just conclusion.
However, the move was countered by the prosecution counsel on the grounds that the defence counsel did not lay foundation for the admission of the statement.
Adeseye during cross examination admitted that there was nothing unusual in foreign companies transferring money to their subsidiaries in Nigeria legally.
The witness further told the court that his bank would not have accepted the transfer of funds from abroad if it were not for legitimate purposes.
But, Ekele in opposing the tendering of the witness written statement insisted that the statement can only be tendered if it was for the purpose of discrediting the oral testimony of the witness.
Responding, Erokoro SAN expressed worry on why the EFCC objected to admission of its own statement, adding that the witness was accurate in the statement he made to the anti-graft agency.
Justice Abang has fixed December 6 for continuation of trial and ruling on the admissibility or otherwise of the statement.
