UK lawyer loses bid to overturn misconduct findings over $3 bln windfall
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - A British lawyer who stood to receive up to $3 billion from Nigeria over a collapsed gas project on Tuesday lost a bid to overturn court findings that he acted corruptly out of greed.
Seamus Andrew had represented Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID), a little-known British Virgin Islands-based company, in a long-running legal battle with Nigeria that ended in a court victory for Africa's most populous country.
Nigeria had been facing a bill for $11 billion, representing around a third of its foreign exchange reserves, after P&ID won an arbitration case over the collapse of a 2010 gas supply deal.
But London's High Court in 2023 overturned the damages bill after finding that P&ID had paid bribes in connection with the underlying contract and the resulting arbitration.
P&ID had denied paying bribes and accused Nigeria of institutional incompetence. Its application to appeal against the High Court's decision was refused.
The court had also found that P&ID's lawyers, including Andrew, received confidential Nigerian documents during the arbitration, which they knew they were not entitled to see, with a judge describing Andrew's conduct as "indefensible."
Andrew could have received 20% of all proceeds recovered from Nigeria, up to $3 billion of the $11 billion award, after becoming a director of P&ID and acquiring a stake in the company in 2017 following the end of the arbitration.
Andrew applied to the Court of Appeal to overturn the findings against him, arguing that inadequate reasons were given for the criticism and that he was not given proper notice that findings would be made against him.
But his application for permission to appeal was refused, with Judge Julian Flaux ruling on Tuesday that Andrew had brought his application too late and that, in any event, the criticism was adequately reasoned, foreseeable and justified.
"Overall, the finding that Mr Andrew's conduct was indefensible was plainly correct," Flaux added.
Andrew said in a statement: "Although I am disappointed by the outcome of my appeal, I believe that I acted in accordance with my professional duties and I am confident that my position will be vindicated in due course."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Cannabis-smoking nursery worker who ‘punched, grabbed & pinched 23 crying babies' moans ‘I'd moody if I couldn't vape'
A NURSERY worker who allegedly punched, grabbed and pinched 23 babies would get "moody" if she couldn't vape at work, a court heard. Roksana Lecka allegedly left the children with scratches to their faces and necks and pinch marks on their inner legs and stomachs. 4 The 22-year-old is accused of "badly harming" the tots over a six month period while working at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, South West London. The nursery, which charges up to £1,900 a month to look after children aged between 18 months and two years, follows the Montessori method of teaching. Lecka told Kingston Crown Court how she would "smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend", Mail Online reports. She said: "At that time I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. "I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke I would get agitated and fed up. I couldn't keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up. 'It would be a couple of puffs and then I'd put it away… I would put it in my bra." She also told the court how she was "so tired" at the time and was not getting any sleep. Lecka claimed she was "addicted" to her boyfriend so was "over-prioritising" him. Her lawyer also claimed she was "worn out, had bad period pains, was short of energy, she was not her normally bubbly self". But prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told jurors that smoking cannabis and not being able to vape were "excuses" for the alleged offences. She added: "It is clear her actions are deliberate or at the very last careless, but on most occasions we say deliberate. "There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka - as we put it - keeps going back for more." Jurors have been told 23 of the children were harmed at the nursery, while a 24th count of child cruelty refers to an offence that allegedly took place before Lecka started. The court also heard how there were no apparent safeguarding issues when Lecka was hired. But last summer, CCTV of the baby room appeared to show the worker pinch a child - leaving them with red marks, it was said. In footage played to the court, Lecka can also apparently be seen pinching the legs, back and under arm of a girl who can be seen crying. Further footage allegedly showed her pinching the side of a girl's face and grabbing her hair. Lecka can be seen vaping in another clip before she took a baby from a crib and pinched and punched her side, jurors heard. One alleged victim was sat at a table when Lecka repeatedly pinched her - causing the girl to cry, it was said. She then allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled her hair so her head made contact with the table. The court heard Lecka was "looking around" at other members of staff to see who was "watching when these assaults occur". One colleague reported seeing the worker assault a boy by pinching his legs - leading the headteacher to check CCTV. Jurors were told the footage showed Lecka also pinching his nose, body, wrist, and mouth. Police trawled through a month's worth of CCTV and discovered 23 babies had been "badly treated in some way", it was said. Lecka was arrested on July 5 last year and said in a prepared statement: "I deny assaulting any children at the Riverside Nursery…I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. "We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused." Lecka has admitted two charges of child cruelty but denies 21 further offences. The trial continues. 4 4
Reuters
31 minutes ago
- Reuters
Tanzania sees economic growth rising to 6% this year
DAR ES SALAAM, June 12 (Reuters) - Tanzania's economic growth is forecast to rise to 6% this year from 5.5% last year, its planning and investment minister said on Thursday. Minister Kitila Mkumbo added that the budget deficit was seen at 3.0% of gross domestic product (GDP) next fiscal year, from 3.4% of GDP this year. The East African country is set to hold an election in October. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is seeking to remain in power, having taken office in 2021 after the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
Scotsman
33 minutes ago
- Scotsman
First Job, first flat: Data reveals Dundee is an affordable UK city for New graduates
Many fresh grads are finding their first paycheques swallowed whole by sky-high rent. Moving Expert reveals which cities have the most affordable rent. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For many university graduates in the UK, the cap-and-gown ceremony marks more than the end of academia. It's supposed to be the beginning of financial independence, career growth, and perhaps even a first apartment. However, for thousands entering the workforce, the dream of living and working in the city of their choice is being crushed by an uncomfortable truth: rent costs in many UK cities now consume more than half of a graduate's salary. According to new analysis from Wolf River Electric, average graduate salaries across several key UK cities fall far short of what's needed to rent a one-bedroom flat. Fortunately, there are cities bucking the trend: Top 10 UK Cities Where Rent Is Below 30% of Graduate Income Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dundee City % of Income Spent on Rent Sunderland 14.16% Dundee 20.00% Bradford 22.68% Doncaster 22.87% Carlisle 25.92% Stoke-on-Trent 26.32% Gloucester 27.65% Derby 27.93% Kingston upon Hull 28.01% Aberdeen 28.17% Sunderland tops the list of most affordable cities for new grads, with rent accounting for just 14.16% of a typical graduate income. Dundee (20%), Bradford (22.68%), and Doncaster (22.87%) also offer young professionals room to breathe and save. These lower-cost cities may not carry the same cachet as London or Oxford, but they are increasingly attractive for graduates prioritising financial freedom over status postcodes. Many of these cities also offer growing employment opportunities and access to remote or hybrid work options. Top 10 UK Cities Where Rent Exceeds 50% of Graduate Income City % of Income Spent on Rent Westminster 96.34% London 81.63% Oxford 67.59% Bristol 60.72% Milton Keynes 54.36% St Albans 53.15% Edinburgh 52.62% Cambridge 52.07% Brighton & Hove 52.04% Bath 51.89% London has long been known for its expensive property market, but the figures go beyond shocking. In Westminster, new graduates spend a staggering 96.34% of their net income on rent. London-wide, the figure remains sky-high at 81.63%. And it's not just the capital: Oxford (67.59%), Bristol (60.72%), and Manchester (51.27%) all rank as cities where a graduate's salary barely covers the cost of a modest flatshare. These figures are calculated using average regional graduate earnings from the Graduate Outcomes 2021 dataset and the most recent monthly rent data. What's Driving the Graduate Housing Crisis? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the heart of the issue lies a mismatch between graduate salaries, housing supply, and regional opportunity. High-paying graduate jobs are often concentrated in cities where the cost of living is least manageable. Meanwhile, cities offering more affordable housing often lack the same density of graduate-level roles or high-growth industries, though this is beginning to change. A significant number of graduates are now opting to move back home with parents, delay relocation, or work remotely while living in lower-cost towns. Others are resorting to house shares or even long-distance commuting. Time for a Rethink: Where Should Grads Really Start Their Careers? The data makes one thing clear: choosing a post-university city is a matter of survivability. As more employers embrace hybrid work models and regional talent development, now is the time for graduates to think beyond traditional hubs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Likewise, universities, policymakers, and employers must work together to close the gap between graduate pay and real-world expenses. Without intervention, we risk creating a generation of workers who are employed but perpetually struggling. Takeaway for Graduates If you're considering where to launch your career, look beyond London. Use your degree wisely, and pair it with affordable living. Consider regional cities with lower rent burdens and growing industries. Ask yourself: Do I want a postcode or peace of mind? 'As someone who helps young professionals move across the UK, I've seen a noticeable shift in graduate migration patterns over the last five years. More grads are bypassing London and other traditional career hotspots, not because they don't want to live there, but because they simply can't afford to. When rent consumes 70% or more of your salary, you're not really living. You're just trying to survive.
