A traditional chief and retired civil servant, Chief George Kadiri, who stood surety for British national James Nolan in the ongoing $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) fraud case, has been arrested and brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kadiri was presented before Justice Peter Lifu on Thursday, following a bench warrant earlier issued for his arrest due to repeated failures to appear in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secured the warrant after Nolan, a director in P&ID, absconded from trial. His ₦100 million bail was revoked by Justice Ahmed Mohammed on September 28, 2022, prompting a directive for his arrest by security agencies and Interpol.
In November 2022, Kadiri had filed a motion seeking more time to justify why his bail bond should not be forfeited. However, his continued absence led the EFCC to pursue and obtain a fresh arrest order.
At Thursday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel Bala Sanga confirmed Kadiri’s arrest and urged the court to order the forfeiture of the bond.
Kadiri’s counsel, O.J. Aboge, requested an adjournment to argue against the forfeiture. Supporting the application, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Paul Erokoro, who appeared for the defendants, offered to stand surety for Kadiri.
Describing him as “a respected traditional chief in Gwagwalada,” Erokoro said, “This is my first time taking anyone on bail. He won’t run.”
The EFCC did not oppose the new bail arrangement or the application for an adjournment.
Justice Lifu granted the request, ordered Kadiri’s release to Erokoro, and fixed November 5 for hearing on the bond forfeiture.
Meanwhile, Nolan remains at large. He was first arraigned in August 2020 alongside Lurgi Consult Limited in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/143/2020 and is facing trial in at least five other related cases before the same court. NAN