Home BUSINESS How former Nigerian CJN contravened the law, helped P&ID in $9.6bn...

How former Nigerian CJN contravened the law, helped P&ID in $9.6bn case against FG

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A report by PremiumTimes has revealed how Alfa Belgore, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, helped Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID), an Irish company, to win a $9.6 billion compensation against the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Belgore, who acted as a legal consultant to P&ID, analysed Nigeria’s laws, “exploited their shortcomings” and cited case laws for the benefit of the firm.

The report said Belgore, in the written legal advice offered to P&ID, admitted that he was working for a foreign company.

It said the former CJN explained he was providing the legal opinion for the benefit of Harcus Sinclair LLP, P&ID’s solicitors, which provided him with the preliminary objections, the memorandum of understanding between P&ID and the government, and a copy of the gas supply and processing agreement between the company and the Nigerian government.

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The retired jurist also said he considered several legal texts, statutes and case reports as well as evidence to prepare the report which he admitted will be used in arbitration against Nigeria.

A UK tribunal accepted Belgore’s opinion in ruling that the British Virgin Island firm is entitled to $6.6billion in damages, plus interest, the report said.

In 2010, the company entered a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA) with the federal government to build a gas processing facility in Calabar.

But the company said after spending years preparing for the project, it collapsed because the Nigerian government did not build a pipeline or secure supply of gas as stipulated in the agreement.

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It then sought judicial remedy in 2012, and in 2017, it was awarded $6.6 billion in damages.

The British court gave P&ID the fiat to seize Nigerian assets worth $9 billion, following the non-execution of the ”agreement”.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, described the agreement as dubious, saying the federal government is confident that it will be upturned.

Also, Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would prosecute all past government officials involved in the deal.

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Recall that Section 5 of the fifth schedule of the 1999 constitution prohibits former presidents, vice presidents, chief justices of Nigeria, governors and deputy governors from working for foreign companies or enterprises.

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