Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for James Nolan, a Briton, on Tuesday, for jumping bail and failing to appear before him for trial.
Nolan, one of the directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a designated non-financial institution, and another company, ICIL Limited, are standing trial on 16 counts bordering on money laundering.
On the last adjourned date, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, G.C. Ofulue, sought a bench warrant on the defendant, but the judge decided to give the defence more time to produce him on the next adjourned date.
At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the defence counsel, Michael Ajara, told the court that his team was on the trail of the defendant, prompting the prosecution counsel to again request the court issue a bench warrant on the defendant.
Ofulue also asked the court to order his surety to show cause why his property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
However, Ajara pleaded with the court not to dock the surety yet, explaining that his team was trying to produce the defendant before the court.
The judge, thereafter, issued a bench warrant on the defendant and ordered the surety to appear before him on the next adjourned date.
He also adjourned the case till February 7, 2023.
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