James Nolan, a British national accused in the $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd scandal, informed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that he would not be calling any witnesses in his defense.

Nolan, who is being tried in absentia after fleeing Nigeria while on bail, made this known through his lawyer, Michael Ajara, during proceedings presided over by Obiora Egwuatu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 20-count charge against Nolan and Micad Project City Services Limited, a company where Nolan serves as a director, accusing them of money laundering. The defendants were initially arraigned in May 2022 and pleaded not guilty. Nolan, also a director in P&ID Ltd, was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre before securing bail after meeting a reduced condition of ₦100 million with a surety.

However, Nolan later stopped attending court proceedings and fled the country. The court declared him wanted and ordered his arrest. In January 2024, INTERPOL apprehended Nolan in Italy during a visit to his wife, but he has yet to be extradited to Nigeria to face trial.

During Thursday’s hearing, EFCC counsel Bala Sanga informed the court that the prosecution had decided to forgo calling its final witness after reviewing the case. Nolan’s lawyer, Ajara, raised no objections, stating that the defense would rely on the evidence presented by the EFCC.

“Based on the evidence already before the court adduced by the prosecution, we shall be resting our case on theirs. We do not intend to call any witness,” Ajara said.

Egwuatu adjourned the case to March 10 for the adoption of final written addresses by both parties.

In a related development, a sister court presided over by Donatus Okorowo, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, ruled on July 3, 2024, that two companies linked to Nolan—Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd—were guilty of money laundering.

The court ordered the winding up of the two companies and the forfeiture of their assets to the federal government as part of measures to address their involvement in the P&ID Ltd fraud.