Supreme Court Orders Fred Ajudua Back To Jail Over Alleged €0.89 Million Fraud

The Supreme Court has ordered Fred Ajudua, a Lagos-based businessman, back to prison over his ongoing fraud case involving a German company.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, the apex court overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that earlier granted Ajudua bail. The court held that the lower court erred in releasing him and directed that he return to correctional custody immediately.

Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a German company of €0.89 million more than 30 years ago. The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has lingered in the court system for over a decade.

The court also ordered Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court to continue hearing the criminal case without further delay.

Originally, the EFCC charged Ajudua before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Ikeja High Court. The case was later withdrawn and re-filed before Justice Dada. At his re-arraignment on July 6, 2018, Justice Dada denied Ajudua’s bail application, citing long-standing delays and repeated health-related excuses.

Justice Dada ruled that the court could not allow further delay of the matter. She remanded Ajudua in prison custody, emphasizing that the case was one of the oldest on her docket.

However, Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, approached the Court of Appeal in Lagos. Justice Garba, who led the appellate panel, granted bail on the basis that it is a constitutional right and allowed Ajudua to remain under the bail conditions earlier set.

The EFCC appealed the decision at the Supreme Court, which ruled in its favor. The court held that Ajudua must return to jail and face his trial.

The ruling is seen as a major victory for the EFCC and a signal of renewed urgency in the fight against long-drawn fraud trials.

The court stressed that Ajudua’s trial must proceed without undue delay and urged all parties to cooperate.