Court Rejects Ajudua’s Fresh Bail Plea in $1.04m Fraud Case

The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, has refused a fresh bail application filed by Fred Ajudua—a businessman and socialite standing trial for allegedly defrauding Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000.

At Wednesday’s sitting, Ajudua was brought to court by medical personnel from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), with his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, arguing for bail on medical grounds. Ojo emphasized Ajudua’s ongoing treatment for chronic kidney disease and assured the court of the defendant’s readiness for trial, despite his health condition. “Only the living can face trial,” Ojo pleaded, urging the court to exercise discretion in granting temporary liberty for medical care.

However, prosecution counsel, Seidu Atteh, opposed the motion, highlighting that the Supreme Court had recently revoked Ajudua’s earlier bail. Atteh argued that with appeals pending before the apex court, the appropriate forum for the bail application was the Supreme Court itself.

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Justice Dada, siding with the prosecution’s argument, stated: “In view of the applications filed at the Supreme Court, I am constrained to make any decision concerning this instant application. I will abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court.”

Following the ruling, proceedings continued with the prosecution presenting its third witness, Bashir Emmanuel Afanda, an EFCC operative, who recounted the transfer of the case from the police to the EFCC and investigations involving documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The defense contested the admissibility of several prosecution documents, citing improper certification and authorship. Justice Dada admitted two documents as exhibits but rejected others, including a forensic report and CBN correspondence, upholding the defense’s objection.

Ajudua’s alleged offence dates back to 1993, when he and an accomplice (currently at large) purportedly defrauded Mr. Abu Zalaf under false pretenses using forged CBN and NNPC documents. The case has experienced multiple delays, transfers, and technical objections since its initiation in 2005. After a period of bail granted by the Lagos Court of Appeal in 2018, the Supreme Court on May 9, 2025, revoked that privilege and ordered Ajudua’s return to custody to await expedited trial before Justice Dada.

With the bail refused, the trial has been adjourned to October 10, October 31, and November 20, 2025, for continuation.

Key Points:

• Bail refused due to pending Supreme Court matters.
• Trial continues despite claims of chronic kidney disease.
• Two prosecution exhibits admitted; others—including forensic reports—rejected.
• Case adjourned to new dates for further hearing.

This long-running case remains a focal point for Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight, underscoring the intricate interplay of legal strategy, judicial discretion, and health-related human rights in high-profile financial crimes.