$5.9m fraud: Ajudua to remain in jail as court dismisses bail application

An Ikeja, Lagos State High Court on Tuesday denied a bail application by a one-time socialite, Fred Ajudua.
Ajudua is accused of defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi, of $5.9 million (about N1 billion).
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye dismissed the application filed by Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, for lack of merit.
The judge said that granting of bail was at the court’s discretion, which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.
Ipaye said that the medical reports issued by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital showed that Ajudua was suffering from complicated ailments as a result of having a solitary kidney.
According to her, the underlying health status of a defendant is just one of the factors to be put into consideration by the court in granting bail.
Ipaye cited Ajudua’s antecedents in another criminal trial where he was reported to have absconded from trial after he was granted bail on medical grounds.
She said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had also claimed that he tampered with one of their witnesses, Remy Cina, to frustrate their prosecution of the case.
The judge said: “This court is of considered opinion that in the light of the defendant’s antecedents and the gravity of the charge, that the chance of his absconding, if the bail is granted, is quite high.
“In the circumstances, therefore, I hold that the application for bail lacks merit and it is hereby refused.”
The matter was adjourned till June 30 for commencement of trial.
The EFCC alleged that Ajudua conspired with others (now at large) to perpetrate the fraud between November 2004 and June 2005.
According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Bamaiyi while they were remanded at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos for separate alleged crimes.
The anti-graft agency said Ajudua obtained the money from Bamaiyi by claiming that it represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case.
He is also alleged to have claimed that the money would help to facilitate Bamaiyi’s release from prison.