The coalition of civil society groups on Monday protested the award of a $9.6 billion fine against Nigeria by a United Kingdom court following a botched oil deal with P&ID.

Process & Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) is the British engineering firm at the centre of the award by the UK court against Nigeria.

The protesters gathered at the British and Irish Embassies in Abuja carrying various placards calling on authorities to promptly act on the matter.

The group is asking the court to overturn the judgement claiming it was politically motivated and that the private company involved did not follow due process in the oil contract deal.

The award in favour of P&ID followed an alleged breach of a 2010 gas contract agreement by the company and the Nigerian government.

The group had last week in a statement by Ibrahim Abubakr, its secretary-general, described the judgment as “fraudulent”, saying: “those behind this huge corruption must be brought to justice”.

“The president has directed that all Executive members and affiliated organizations from all states should return back to Abuja for a national duty that will be taken place on 2nd of September, 2019,” the statement read.

“You are hereby directed to be in Abuja latest on the 1st of September for the 2nd of September, 2019 protest during which we will occupy British Embassy and Irish embassy for one week with a call for reversal of the $9.6bn fraudulent judgment by UK court instituted by P&ID Irish company against our beloved nation.”

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had said Nigeria’s deal with P&ID was designed to fail.

Malami explained that deal was between the P&ID and the ministry of petroleum resources which does not produce gas.

He added that those who entered into deal on behalf of the country subjected Nigeria to “economic sabotage.”