Alleged $1m Fraud: Ajudua Seeks Fresh Bail As Trial Resumes

The trial of alleged serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, resumed on Friday before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, with the defendant making a fresh bid to secure bail.

Ajudua, who appeared in court dressed in a white native attire and leaning on a walking stick, is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000 under false pretences.

His counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that his client had filed a notice of withdrawal of an application earlier pending before the Supreme Court, to allow the High Court rule on his bail request.

Ojo said, “We decided to withdraw the motion we filed at the Supreme Court to allow this Honourable Court to deliver its ruling on the bail application.”

He also presented an affidavit and a copy of the withdrawal notice to the court, adding that despite battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, Ajudua insisted on attending court in person to fulfil his legal obligations.

However, the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Seidu Atteh, opposed the move, arguing that the application before the Supreme Court remained on the cause list. He urged the court to await the apex court’s formal pronouncement on the withdrawal.

“The defendant must produce an order from the Supreme Court either dismissing or striking out the notice of withdrawal. We urge this Honourable Court to await the decision of the Supreme Court,” Atteh said.

In her ruling, Justice Mojisola Dada upheld the prosecution’s position, stating that the court must be satisfied that the notice of withdrawal had been properly filed and addressed by the Supreme Court before taking further action.

Following the ruling, the trial continued with the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an EFCC investigator.

Emmanuel testified that he joined the Commission in 2009 and became involved in Ajudua’s case after it was transferred from the Nigeria Police Force’s Special Fraud Unit to the EFCC’s Advance Fee Fraud Section.

According to him, the EFCC contacted several institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Commission’s forensic laboratory, during its investigation.

He confirmed interviewing the complainant, Zad Abu Zalaf, and another individual, Mr. Michel Opkema, and also visiting Ajudua at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, where his statements to the police were reviewed as part of the investigation.

However, the witness admitted that the EFCC itself did not obtain any written statement directly from the defendant.

Proceedings were briefly halted when Ajudua requested a toilet break, after which he complained to his counsel about bleeding. Ojo then sought an adjournment to enable his client seek medical attention.

Justice Dada subsequently adjourned the matter to October 31, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.