JUSTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday adjourned till today a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a Briton, Adam Quinn, due to the absence of the prosecution witness.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Abang, on December 18, 2019, ordered the arrest of Quinn for his alleged complicity in the $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited scam against Nigeria.
The EFCC had prosecuted Nolan and Quinn, both directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution and ICIL Limited.
They were arraigned on a 16-count charge which was later amended to 32 counts bordering on money laundering.
Quinn’s associate, Nolan, was noted to be a signatory to P&ID accounts and had been at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, following his failure to perfect his bail conditions.
The judge said the arrest of Quinn would assist the Federal Government in the prosecution trial.
Prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, told the court that the witness had been in court during previous court sittings and was aware of yesterday’s proceedings.
“He is aware of the date and contacted me this morning. I have been calling him to know his whereabouts, but he is not responding,” he said.
Due to the absence of its witness, the prosecution applied for an adjournment.
NAN also reports that Iheanacho had told the court that Quinn’s name featured in the charges not less than 21 times.
He averred that though Quinn was not within the court’s jurisdiction, an order of warrant of arrest extraditing the defendant could be effected.
According to him, the court has the statutory powers under the provisions of sections 3, 35, 36 and 37 of the Administration of Justice Act, 2015, to grant the prayers being sought.
“We seek an order of the Honourable Court issuing a warrant for the arrest of Adam Quinn, named in counts 1, 2, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the criminal charge brought before this Honourable Court and face trial on the aforementioned criminal charges.
“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case,” he said. (The Nation)
