James Nolan, a British national on trial over his involvement in the Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) fraud, has waived his right to call witnesses for his defence.

Nolan is standing trial alongside a company, Micad Project City Services Limited, on a 20-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended), and criminal conversion of proceeds of crime to the tune of N151,394,328.

At the court session on Thursday, Bala Sanga, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that the business of the day would have been for the prosecution to call its last witness.

“But upon review of the case, we found that it is superfluous, and therefore we are dispensing with the last witness,” Sanga said.

Michael Ajara, Nolan’s counsel, did not oppose the prosecution’s submission.

Ajara told the court that the defence team would rely on the evidence and witnesses brought by the prosecution.

“Based on the evidence already before the court adduced by the prosecution, we shall be resting our case on theirs. So, we don’t intend to call any witness,” he said.

Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter until March 10 to adopt the parties’ final written addresses.

Yhemolee, the nightlife influencer and media personality, has addressed the backlash he has received over Asake’s recent transformation.

Asake, the Afrobeats sensation, unveiled his new appearance on Saturday, showcasing shorter hair and face tattoos.

Fans have been divided over Asake’s new look, with some expressing concern and criticising his friend Yhemolee for allegedly influencing the singer’s decision.

Reacting via an Instagram live, Yhemolee questioned why he is being held responsible for Asake’s choices.

He revealed that someone criticised him, saying he should be “ashamed” if he didn’t correct Asake.

Yhemolee warned critics to stop making such comments while threatening confrontation.

“People have been abusing me over someone else’s face. If I get angry, I will also get facial tattoos and ruin my face. You all know I’m the best at getting tattoos,” he said.

“Someone even told me I’d be shamed if I didn’t call Asake to order. You’re lucky I’m in America right now. If I were in Lagos, I’d track you down for saying that. Am I the tattoo artist who did his tattoos?”

Ubi Franklin, the music executive, has addressed Spyro’s recent allegation that he owes the singer $5,000.

Spyro had alleged that Franklin scammed him out of a performance fee in Ghana.

The singer said Franklin allegedly deceived him into performing at an event in Ghana. He claimed that despite agreeing to perform for a fee of $5,000, Franklin failed to pay him after the event.

Reacting in a recent Instagram live, Franklin claimed that Spyro also breached their agreement on a car deal, failing to pay him N10.5 million.

The artiste manager revealed that he introduced Spyro to a company where he purchased a car for N105 million and they agreed that Franklin would receive 10% of the car’s price, which amounts to N10.5 million.

He claimed Spyro failed to pay him his share.

Franklin explained that he had planned to pay Spyro the $5,000 performance fee but waited for Spyro to pay him the N10.5 million owed from the car deal.

“I got a call from one of our friends in Ghana saying the party that is going, some artistes have canceled. I should please; can they come since Iyanya and Spyro are around? I asked Iyanya, and he said he could go,” he said.

“He asked how much, and I said it was $5k since it was impromptu. And he was like, let us go. We went to the event, but they did not give us the money. It took some days until I started calling,” he said.

“I called Spyro and said this your car. Are you still giving me my 10%? He said, ‘Let me finish paying them, and he would pay me out. I was like, if I collected this money, I would give it to him. I want to see if he would tell me to take back my 10%, N10.5 million.

“The car was N105 million. I delayed it for a bit, waiting for him to activate. He took the car, but it was not on full payment. He paid N50 million, and the remaining he paid on December 23rd.

“The day I was going to give him the money, I called a senior mutual friend of ours. I called the car company today, and they said he had finished paying.”