The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Paul Erokoro, counsel to James Nolan, a Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) director, of deploying a delay tactic in the ongoing trial.

EFCC lawyer, Bala Sanga, made the allegation before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

But Mr Erokoro disagreed with Mr Sanga, describing the allegation as “blackmail.”

At the resumed hearing, Sanga informed that the matter was slated for cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Temitope Erinomo, a principal compliant officer in the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

While the cross-examination was going on, the anti-graft agency’s lawyer objected to some questions that Mr Erokoro put to the witness.

Mr Sanga, who interjected, called the court’s attention to the fact that Mr Erokoro, who only appeared for Mr Nolan (second defendant), could not represent Lurgi Consult Limited (first defendant) in the trial.

He said the questions put across to Mr Erinomo indicated that he was representing the two defendants. Mr Sanga argued that though any counsel did not represent the company, the senior lawyer could not advocate for the firm.

In addition, he alleged that Mr Erokoro’s action was a ploy to delay proceedings in the matter, just like a sister case before another judge, which, he said, had lingered for about three years.

Mr Sanga told Mr Mohammed that it was still on the first prosecution witness three years after that case commenced.

Reacting to Mr Sanga’s allegation of deploying a delay tactic, Mr Erokoro asserted, “My lord, I have one word for this: blackmail.”

He pointed out that Mr Sanga could not arm-twist the court into believing his statement. Mr Erokoro explained that the sister case that Mr Sanga mentioned involved $9.6 billion, with over 20,000 pages of evidence exhibited. He saw no reason the matter should not take three years in cross-examining a witness.

Mr Mohammed, who assured that the case before him would be dispensed with as quickly as possible, ruled that Mr Erokoro should remember that he only appeared for the second defendant (Mr Nolan).

The judge adjourned the matter until June 1 for trial continuation.

The federal government had sued Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI); ICIL Limited and Mr Nolan as first to third defendants respectively before Justice Okon Abang in 2019.

However, the case was reassigned to Justice Donatus Okorowo around September 2021, following the transfer of Mr Abang to the Warri Division of Federal High Court.

(NAN)