The Federal Government is seeking a stay of execution on the award of $9.6bn dollars by a British Court, against Nigeria to Irish company, P&IDLimited.

It has also directed the EFCC, theNational Intelligence Agency and the IG of Police to conduct a thorough investigation into Process and Industrial Developments Ltd which was recently asked by a UK court to seize $9.6bn dollars in Nigerian assets.

Minister of Information and Culture, LAI MOHAMMED, gave this indication at a news conference in Abuja.

Also at the briefing, the Minister of Justice, ABUBAKAR MALAMI said the decision was based on the fact that the Federal Government suspected foul play in the contract which was negotiated and signed in 2010.

On his part, the CBN Governor, GODWIN EMEFIELE said there was no proper documentation of the Gas project.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports that 23 Nigerians convicted for drug offences in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had been executed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was in contact with the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia “and it has been confirmed that the story is false and should be disregarded.”

The media had been awash with the names of the convicts awaiting execution in various Saudi prisons for drug offences.

But the ministry spokesman, FERDINAND NWONYE, explained in a statement in Abuja, that the Ministry was investigating claims that most of the trials were carried out without adequate legal representation for the accused, in accordance with internationally accepted legal principles.