$8.4m Fraud: Court Denies Ajudua Bail Again

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja Tuesday turned down a bail application filed by Fred Ajudua who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding former Chief of Army Staff, Ishaya Bamaiyi of $8.4 million.

Ajudua is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly collecting the money from Bamaiyi while they were both in custody at Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

The EFCC claimed that Ajudua and others still at large  defrauded Bamaiyi through false claims that the money represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle Bamaiyi’s case in court and to facilitate his release from prison.

Ajudua, who initially insisted that Bamaiyi be put on trial also for admitting that he offered bribe, pleaded not guilty to the charge after the court refused his application.

He subsequently applied for bail citing health grounds.

Part of the exhibits filed in support of his application were two medical reports from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital which indicated that he was suffering from kidney failure.

Ruling on the bail application Monday, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye held that there was no special circumstance warranting the court to grant the defendant bail.

The judge held that Ajudua had in the past refused to attend his trial when he absconded after being granted bail by another court in another matter.

Justice Ipaye said she is mindful of Ajudua’s antecedent as he had also tried to compromise an EFCC witness in another matter.

The judge further held that Ajudua’s chances of jumping bail were very high more so when has not shown any special circumstance why he should be granted bail.

She subsequently adjourned the matter till 30 June, 1st and 4th July.

Ajudua was also refused bail recently in another court where he is standing trial for allegedly defrauding two Dutch nationals of $1.69m.