Fred Ajudua's Fraud Case: Supreme Court Slaps Bail Cancellation
High Court Mandates Return of Ajudua to Jail for Alleged Crime from 1991
The tale of Lagos businessman, former socialite, and alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, took an unexpected turn when the Supreme Court revoked his bail and ordered him back to correctional custody.
In a unanimous ruling on May 9, 2025, the apex court overturned a decision by the Court of Appeal that had granted bail to Ajudua, who has been standing trial for a crime over two decades old.
The alleged crime? Obtaining over $1 million by false pretenses from a Palestinian-German businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf. The case was first highlighted by a letter from the Embassy of the State of Palestine in 1993.
Initially charged before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos High Court, the case was later re-filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada. The EFCC accuses Ajudua of conspiring with one Joseph Ochunor, who is still at large, to defraud Zalaf.
The apex court held that the Appeal Court erred in granting bail and ordered Ajudua's return to correctional custody. Moreover, the court directed Justice Mojisola Dada to resume hearing of the criminal case.
Despite claims of poor health, Ajudua's bail application was denied by Justice Dada in July 2018. This decision was later overturned by Justice Mohammad Garba of the Court of Appeal, who allowed Ajudua to remain free under his previous bail conditions. Dissatisfied with this decision, the EFCC appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court's decision emphasizes the court's commitment to expediting the trial, signaling a significant development in the almost three-decade-old case. The case will now be remitted back to the Chief Judge of Lagos State for assignment to the same trial judge to continue the trial as swiftly as possible.
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Interested in learning more about the details of the case and the background of the parties involved? Here's a brief overview:
- Background of the Case: The legal case against Fred Ajudua involves allegations of fraud dating back to the early 1990s. The EFCC accuses Ajudua of conspiring with Joseph Ochunor, who remains at large, to obtain money by false pretenses from Ziad Abu Zalaf, a Palestinian based in Germany. The alleged victim is associated with Technical International Ltd, a division of Mystic Company Ltd, a German-based firm. Specifically, the EFCC alleges that Ajudua and Ochunor obtained $268,000 on April 2, 1993, and an additional $225,000 on May 12, 1993, from Zalaf.[1][3][4] The case was first highlighted by a letter from the Embassy of the State of Palestine dated August 26, 1993, which alleged that Ajudua obtained approximately $1.43 million by false pretense from Zalaf.[1][3][4]
- In contrast to his previous bail, the Supreme Court, on May 9, 2025, ruled against Lagos businessman Fred Ajudua, cancelling his bail and ordering his return to correctional custody in a case dating back over two decades.
- The case against Fred Ajudua, a former socialite from Naija, is rooted in Nigeria, where he allegedly defrauded a Palestinian-German businessman of over $1 million through false pretenses, a charge first highlighted in a 1993 letter from the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
- As the trial progressed, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Ajudua of colluding with Joseph Ochunor, who is still at large, in the crime.
- While the case was originally filed before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos High Court, it was later re-filed by the EFCC and reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada.
- Despite suiting for bail due to health reasons, Ajudua's request was denied by Justice Dada in July 2018, and his appeal to the Court of Appeal ultimately allowed him to remain free on his previous bail conditions.
- The EFCC was not satisfied with this decision and appealed to the Supreme Court, which recently reversed the Court of Appeal's ruling and emphasized its commitment to expediting the trial and ensuring justice.
- With the Supreme Court's decision, the case, which falls under general news, crime and justice, and political categories, will now be remitted back to the Chief Judge of Lagos State for reassignment and continuation as swiftly as possible.
