P&ID: UK court sets timeline for hearing
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, has on Friday appeared in the English High Court for a scheduled Case Management Conference (CMC) on Friday 24th January, 2020.
The CMC was held for the Court to decide procedural issues relating to the application to set aside the arbitral award on the basis that it was procured by fraud and corruption.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the HAGF on Media, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, today.
The statement said that a timetable has now been fixed for a hearing to decide if the
application can be brought outside the normal time limits.
This is another positive milestone in the Federation’s fight to overturn this award.
“Based on new and credible evidence discovered by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It is increasingly clear that P&ID “contract” was a highly orchestrated scam, involving a cover-up by ministers at the highest
levels of office in the previous administration”.
According to the statement, “These officials, who were entrusted to safeguard the future and assets of Nigeria, knowingly entered into the sham GSPA, and deliberately failed to defend the Federation in the ensuing arbitral proceedings”.
“It is telling that to date P&ID have said nothing to rebut these allegations of fraud”.
“These issues will now be before the Court to consider in relation to the Federation’s challenge to this award”.
P&ID has 28 days to respond to the application for the extension of the time to challenge the arbitral award. Thereafter, the Court will set a date for hearing of the application.
Modupe Ogundoro
Deputy Director ( Information )
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