Al Jazeera reveals ex-Nigerian govt official to share in $11bn gas scandal damages

A former Nigerian civil servant may stand to receive a portion of substantial damages if a British court rules against Nigeria in a landmark case revolving around a multi-billion dollar gas deal. Grace Taiga, the former head lawyer of the petroleum ministry, is among three Nigerians who could potentially benefit if the court orders Nigeria to pay the award to the offshore company Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID).

Nigeria has refused to make the payment, asserting that P&ID engaged in bribery, including with Taiga, to secure the gas contract. The court’s decision, expected soon, could have severe economic consequences for Nigeria.

This unfolding scandal dates back to the late 2000s when then-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration sought to address Nigeria’s energy supply challenges by tapping into its extensive untapped gas reserves in the Niger Delta region. P&ID presented an ambitious project to the petroleum ministry, proposing to construct and operate a gas-processing plant near Calabar. Despite their inexperience, P&ID convinced the ministry to enter an agreement in which the government would supply wet gas to P&ID for free over 20 years, with the processed resource being shared.

However, the project never materialized, leading to P&ID blaming the government and ultimately winning a substantial arbitration award. The panel’s decision mandated Nigeria to pay P&ID for the total hypothetical profit they would have earned over the contract’s lifespan, resulting in a total of $11.4 billion with interest. Nigeria contested the decision, alleging corruption and bribery.

The case has brought to light allegations of payments to Taiga, who played a central role in the contract negotiations. Evidence indicates that she received funds from individuals and entities associated with P&ID before the contract signing. While Taiga acknowledged the payments, she asserted that they were gifts from a family friend, P&ID co-founder Michael Quinn. If Nigeria loses the case, the country would be legally bound to pay P&ID an amount equivalent to eight times its 2023 federal health budget.

The possible division of the awarded sum has been kept confidential, but recent revelations suggest that Taiga, Adebayo, and Kuchazi could all stand to benefit. Taiga, who previously denied any financial interest in the award, later admitted to having expectations. This revelation could complicate her credibility as a former public official. Adetunji Adebayo, acting as a middleman for P&ID during negotiations with the government, may be entitled to $1.4 billion. Mohammed Kuchazi, P&ID’s commercial director, believes he is owed 3 percent of the award, amounting to approximately $340 million.

The Nigerian government has accused Adebayo and Kuchazi of bribing Nigerian officials on behalf of P&ID. These allegations have been denied by the company and Kuchazi. With the High Court’s decision looming, this case has significant implications for Nigeria’s economy and the individuals involved.

Al Jazeera