By Ghazali Ibrahim
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has dismissed a fresh bail application filed by alleged serial fraudster Fred Ajudua, who is on trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000.
At Tuesday’s sitting, Ajudua appeared in court under medical supervision from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), with his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, arguing for bail on health grounds.
Ojo told the court that despite LUTH’s policy against releasing patients under special care, the defence secured his client’s presence in court.
“I assured this court on July 23 that the defendant would be present today. With the cooperation of medical personnel from LUTH, he was allowed to attend court,” Ojo said, adding that Ajudua was fit to face trial.
The defence filed a new bail application dated July 22, 2025, supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit and written address.
However, prosecuting counsel S.H. Atteh opposed the request, citing a counter-affidavit and attaching a Supreme Court judgment, arguing that the bail issue was a matter for the apex court given pending appeals.
In her ruling, Justice Dada stated:
“In view of the application pending before the Supreme Court, I am constrained to make any pronouncement on this bail application. I will abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court.”
Following the ruling, the prosecution called its third witness, Bashir Emmanuel Afanda, an EFCC operative, who detailed how the case moved from the Nigeria Police to the anti-graft agency between 2005 and 2011.
Afanda said investigators reviewed letters and documents linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce.
“In July 2013, forensic analysis was conducted on the documents, and correspondence was received from the CBN, NNPC, and the EFCC’s forensic laboratory in Abuja,” he testified, adding that he interviewed the complainant in 2018.
Ojo opposed the admissibility of several prosecution documents, including photocopies of forensic reports, arguing they were uncertified and not authored by the witness.
Justice Dada admitted Exhibits P1 and P2 but rejected the forensic report and CBN documents marked Exhibits 3 and 4, siding with the defence.
Fred has been at the center of one of Nigeria’s most protracted fraud trials, stemming from allegations dating back to 1993.
He is accused of defrauding Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf of $1,043,000 under false pretenses. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Ajudua, along with an accomplice, forged documents purportedly from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to lend credibility to the scam.
In a related incident, German businessman Michael Kramer testified that he was defrauded of $550,000 by Ajudua in 1993.
Also, he allegedly defrauded former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of 8.4 million while both were incarcerated at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos in 2004.
According to reports, Ajudua convinced Bamaiyi that the funds were necessary to secure legal representation from Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to facilitate his release.
The case was adjourned to October 10, October 31, and November 20, 2025, for continuation of trial.
