Emmanuel OchayiAn EFCC witness has revealed how Trinity Biotech’s MD, Patrick Nash (also known as Gerald Nash), escaped arrest and fled the country amid the $9.6 billion P&ID fraud trial.
In a dramatic twist to the ongoing trial of the $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) fraud case, a key witness from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed on Thursday, September 21, 2023, how the Managing Director of Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited, Patrick Nash, also known as Gerald Nash, managed to evade arrest and flee the country.
Umar Hussein Babangida, the prosecution witness, shared this startling revelation during the proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice D.O. Okorowo.
Babangida informed the court about the diligent efforts made by his team to locate and apprehend Patrick Nash, the Irish national accused of involvement in the massive fraud.
He stated, “My team visited the office of Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited, located on the 1st floor, Oyo State House, Ralph Shodende Street, Abuja, where efforts were made to trace the Managing Director, whose name is Patrick Nash, also known as Gerald Nash, an Irish, but we were informed by the company’s directors, Ibrahim Millar and Uzor Eneli, that he has long left the country.”
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Under cross-examination by the defense counsel, Michael Ajara, Babangida explained that he headed the investigative team, and their inquiry was initiated following a petition from the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
This petition was a response to a judgment against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, amounting to $9.6 billion, in favor of P&ID company.
Babangida continued, “My team and I interacted with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum to aid our investigation. We also relied on responses from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), where requests were made for information regarding the company’s name, names and addresses of shareholders, changes, and other available documents, which they provided as evidence. We further received a written reply from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) to aid the investigation.”
During the investigation, Babangida’s team summoned and interrogated the two directors of Trinity Biotech Ltd, Ibrahim Millar and Uzor Eneli, who willingly provided statements relevant to the case.
Justice Okorowo subsequently adjourned the matter, scheduling it to continue on November 20 and 21, 2023, as the legal battle surrounding the $9.6 billion P&ID fraud case unfolds.
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