The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the revocation of bail previously granted to Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua, who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian businessman of $1.43 million.
In a unanimous ruling, a five-member panel of the apex court ordered that Ajudua be returned to prison custody and directed the resumption of his criminal trial.
The decision followed an appeal (SC/CR/51/2019) filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme faulted the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal for granting Ajudua bail in 2018, despite declaring his supporting brief of argument incompetent. She ruled that the court acted without jurisdiction, as the appeal had effectively been extinguished.
“The lower court became functus officio after striking out the brief. Proceeding further was an exercise in futility,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme said.
The Supreme Court restored the July 5, 2018, decision of the Lagos High Court denying Ajudua bail and ordered his immediate remand.
The case has been remitted to the Chief Judge of Lagos State for reassignment to Justice Mojisola Dada for expedited trial.
Ajudua is accused of conspiring with Joseph Ochunor (still at large) to defraud Ziad Abu Zalaf, a German-based Palestinian businessman, through forged documents allegedly linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The EFCC has filed a 12-count charge against him, including allegations of obtaining funds under false pretences totaling $1.43 million in 1993.
Though previously granted bail by the Court of Appeal on health grounds, the EFCC contested the ruling, leading to the Supreme Court’s reversal.