Alleged $1.04m Fraud: Ajudua Absent in Court, Seeks Fresh Bail

The ongoing trial of alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua before Justice M.A. Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, was stalled on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, following the defendant’s absence in court.

Justice Dada disclosed that the court received a letter from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre stating that Ajudua had been admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, for medical treatment.

In response, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, filed a fresh application for bail.

However, prosecuting counsel Seidu Atteh raised an objection, informing the court that the prosecution had not been served a copy of the medical report from the Correctional Centre.

He added that the day’s business was for continuation of trial, noting that the prosecution was fully ready with two witnesses present — one of whom travelled from Enugu and the other from Port Harcourt.

Justice Dada subsequently adjourned the matter to Wednesday, July 30, 2025, for both continuation of trial and hearing of the fresh bail application.

Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian national, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000 (One Million, Forty-Three Thousand US Dollars) under false pretenses.

The case, initially filed in 2005 before Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos High Court, has suffered multiple delays, largely due to legal maneuvers by the defendant that stalled proceedings.

It was later reassigned to Justice J.E. Oyefeso, and eventually to Justice Dada, before whom Ajudua was re-arraigned on June 4, 2018.

Justice Dada had denied Ajudua bail, prompting an appeal to the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which granted him bail on September 10, 2018. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court.

The EFCC also appealed the appellate court’s decision to reassign the case from Justice Dada to a new judge for a fresh trial. The apex court ruled in favour of the prosecution on both counts, directing that Justice Dada should continue hearing the case.