The US Judge has granted the Nigerian government’s request to access bank records of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani, and others. The request for a subpoena on 10 US banks was made in connection to the alleged bribery scheme and subsequent $9.6 billion arbitral claim involving the British Virgin Island engineering firm, Process and Industrial Development (P&ID).
The filings for the subpoena were made by Alexander Pencu, a partner of Meister Seelig & Fein LLP, attorneys for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria.
The affected banks include Citibank, N.A. (Citibank), Allied Irish Banks plc (Allied Irish), HSBC Bank USA (HSBC), Standard New York, Inc. (Standard New York), Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas (Deutsche Bank), J.P. Morgan Chase (JPMorgan), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Bank of Cyprus, Fortis Private Banking Singapore Limited (Fortis), and Standard Chartered International (USA) Ltd. (Standard Chartered).
New York federal judge, Lorna Schofield granted the request and asked the affected banks to allow the Nigerian government access the information they need to prove their case.
Former political office holders whose accounts are expected to be accessed include former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Faka Jonathan; former oil minister Rilwanu Lukman; the late Diezani Alison-Madueke; Allison Amaechina Madueke; former attorney general and minister of justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Taofiq Tijani; Grace Taiga; Mohammad Kuchazi; Michael Quinn, who died in 2014; James Nolan; Adam Quinn; and Ibrahim Dikko.
It is also speculated that some officials of the banks might testify in the case. Nigeria’s chances of overturning the $9.6 billion arbitration award depend on proving the 2010 gas supply arrangement was a sham designed to fail by P&ID and government officials.
This development comes after former President Goodluck Jonathan denied having an account or property abroad.