Justice Ross Cranston of the United Kingdom’s Royal Court of Justice Thursday ruled that Nigeria has established a prima facie case of fraud against Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) in the country’s bid to upturn the $10 billion arbitration penalty awarded to the shadowy company.
Sir Cranston in his judgment which also granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions, noted the unethical and dishonest conduct of Mr. Supo Shasore, SAN, a former Attorney-General of Lagos State and former partner at Ajumogobia and Okeke in the fraudulent deal.
“… That Nigeria’s counsel in the arbitration, Mr. Shasore dishonestly failed to challenge Mr. Quinn’s perjured evidence or to seek disclosure from P&ID such that Tribunal had no choice but to find favour…
“However, what persuades me of a prima facie case of dishonesty in Mr. Shashore’s conduct of the arbitration are his payments of $100, 000 each to Mrs. Adelore and Mr Oguine. Ms. Adelore occupied Ms. Taiga’s position at the Ministry as the senior lawyer and Mr Oguine was her counterpart at the NNPC. Their salaries as public servants, according to the Attorney-General, Mr. Malami, were some %5, 000 per annum,” Sir Cranston said in his judgment reproduced whole below.