By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA – Chief George Kadiri, the individual who stood as surety for James Nolan, a British national at the heart of the ongoing $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) scam trial, was arrested and produced before the Federal High Court yesterday. Kadiri, a retired civil servant and traditional chief, was subsequently released on bail.
Kadiri’s arrest followed a court order issued after he consistently failed to appear to show cause why his N100 million bail bond should not be forfeited. This bond was in connection with the bail granted to Nolan, a P&ID director whose bail was revoked on September 28, 2022, by Justice Ahmed Mohammed (now elevated to the Court of Appeal), following Nolan’s persistent refusal to appear for his trial. A bench warrant for Nolan’s arrest by security agencies, including Interpol, remains active.
During proceedings yesterday before Justice Peter Lifu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Bala Sanga, moved for the forfeiture of the N100 million bail bond. However, Kadiri’s counsel, O.J. Aboge, sought an adjournment to properly address the court on the forfeiture issue and appealed for his client’s release on bail. Paul Erokoro, SAN, Nolan’s lawyer, surprisingly agreed to take Kadiri on bail, vouching for the chief’s integrity.
Justice Lifu consequently adjourned the matter until November 5 for further proceedings on the bail bond forfeiture. In the interim, Chief Kadiri was released to Chief Paul Erokoro, SAN, on bail, with the directive to be produced in court until the forfeiture issue is resolved.
James Nolan, who remains at large, was initially arraigned on August 18, 2020, and faces approximately eight other charges related to the controversial $9.6 billion P&ID contract.