Court Dismisses Ajudua’s Bail Application

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Tuesday dismissed the bail application by the counsel to Mr. Fred Ajudua, for lack of merit.

Fred Ajudua

Fred Ajudua, was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly conspiring with others who are now at large to defraud a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of $5.9 million between November 2004 and June 2005.

According to the EFCC, the defendant, Ajudua, defrauded Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi while they were both on remand at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos for separate offences.

The commission explained that 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.

The trial Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, in her ruling on the application held that though the evidence before the court showed that Mr Ajudua was suffering from complicated ailments as a result of having a solitary kidney, that factor alone did not entitle him to bail.

Justice Ipaye said Ajudua’s antecedents in a separate criminal matter before another Lagos State High Court revealed that he did not only jump bail but also allegedly interfered with the prosecution’s witness.

Owing to that and the gravity of the charge, the judge held that the chances of him absconding and jumping bail if granted were high.

After dismissing the bail application, the court adjourned till June 30, 2014, for commencement of trial.