P&ID Contract Intended To Defraud Nigeria – SAN

A legal practitioner has said that the controversial Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) gas contract entered into with Nigerian officials was intended to defraud the country.

Olasupa Shasore, SAN, one of the lawyers who was involved in the case, in a statement obtained by THE WHISTLER on Saturday, maintained that the 2010 contract was a sham.

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The P&ID agreement never materialised. It later caused the country a huge embarrassment.

This is coming hours after a United Kingdom Commercial Court held that Nigeria had established a prima facie case against P&ID, thereby giving the federal government an opportunity to overturn the close to $9.6 billion awarded against it by a UK Tribunal.

He held that “I filed a jurisdiction objection that potentially could and should indeed have terminated the case in favour of Nigeria because it was clear to us from the beginning that the contract was a scheme against Nigeria.”

In defence of himself, Shasore said that though he was accused at some point, he still did his part to ensure the country was winning in the legal battle.

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Furthermore, he assured the federal government of his loyalty in fighting for the country if and when the need arose.

“I am relieved that the corrupt and fraudulent foundation of this case is affirmed in the recent ruling, though I am disappointed that part of the case made for that result was a case against me based on demonstrably false statements, unfounded innuendoes and spiteful personal attacks on my professional conduct and reputation.

“Even though I reserve the right to respond to further falsehoods against me as they are published, I am however a truly patriotic Nigerian, and remain willing and committed to assisting Nigeria in the numerous stages still required to successfully defend this dispute.

“My commitment and professional integrity to always act in the best interest of Nigeria, who has been victimized by fraud and corruption, remains unshaken,” he stated.

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, had maintained that the P&ID agreement was devoid of standard operating procedures and fraudulent.

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He stressed that for the country to move forward, the rule of law must be observed, while corrupt elements were also brought to book.

“The whole hitches of saga associated with P&ID was indeed a product of corruption, fraud and non-compliance with processes and procedure,” Malami had said at an International Conference on African Arbitration.

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