Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, yesterday, dismissed a bail application filed by alleged fraud kingpin, Fred Ajudua, for being incompetent.
Ajudua, who was first arraigned before the court in 2004, for allegedly obtaining $1.046 million from a German, Zaid Abu Zalaf, applied to seek permission to travel out of the country on health grounds.
However, Justice Dada, in her ruling, held that since the defendant is currently before the Supreme Court, where he is seeking similar reliefs, she could not entertain the fresh bail application.
The judge held: “In light of the applications filed with the Supreme Court, I cannot make any decision regarding this instant bail application filed by the defence counsel. I will abide by the decisions made by the Supreme Court.”
The judge, however, adjourned till October 10, 31, and November 20, 2025, for continuation of the trial. Ajudua, who came to court, yesterday, accompanied by medical personnel from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge of fraud and conspiracy.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Ajudua conspired with one Joseph Ochunor, who is still at large, sometime in 1993 to defraud his victim, Zalaf of Technical International Ltd., a company based in Germany.
The EFCC further claimed that Ajudua and Ochunor forged receipts from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), presenting them as original documents to lend credibility to the alleged scam. He had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At yesterday’s proceedings, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), said: “On July 23, 2025, I said I would do everything possible to make sure the defendant is here today with the assistance of medical personnel from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and also aware of a letter written that it is not a practice to release someone on special treatment to come to court.
“Because of this, they allowed him to come to court today with medical personnel. We are prepared for the trial to continue.” The prosecution counsel, S. H. Atteh, said the complainant’s counter-affidavit on his bail was served on them yesterday.
