A U.S. court has granted the Nigerian government permission to depose Louis Emovbira William, a businessman who alleged he was tortured by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) in 1986 and later awarded $21 million in compensation. The ruling is part of an ongoing legal battle over the seizure of funds from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account.
Judge Lewis Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, on October 8, approved Nigeria’s request to question Mr. William about the events that led to his alleged ordeal. However, the judge set a strict timeline for the deposition due to Mr. William’s deteriorating health.
“To preserve the plaintiff’s testimony and evidence, given his physical condition, defendants must submit document production requests by October 22, 2024,” the judge ordered. Mr. William has until November 5, 2024, to respond, and the deposition is required to be completed by December 20, 2024.
The case involves multiple parties, including Nigeria’s Attorney General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and JP Morgan, as well as Mr. William, who claims he was wrongfully imprisoned in 1986.
The parties have agreed to hold the deposition in London over three days, from December 17 to 19, with a 12-hour limit for questioning due to Mr. William’s health. The session will be videotaped and facilitated by a court reporter, with provisions for remote participation. The costs for the court reporter and videographer will be shared among the involved parties, who will also cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Mr. William’s claim dates back to a failed food importation deal, which he says led to the Nigerian government scamming him out of $6.5 million. When he attempted to recover the funds, he was imprisoned and sentenced to 10 years for “economic sabotage” in 1986. He escaped prison three years later, receiving a presidential pardon from then-military leader Ibrahim Babangida, along with a contract for $6.5 million at 17% compound interest.
Efforts to recover the money were delayed for years, with the case only gaining traction after Nigeria’s return to civilian rule. In 2018, the UK High Court awarded Mr. William over $21 million. He is now seeking to enforce that judgment in the U.S., while Nigeria is fighting to prevent the payment.
