By our reporter
A month to his 65th birthday, businessman,lawyer and alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, heads back to prison following a Supreme Court verdict today.
The apex court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal that granted bail to Ajudua, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and standing trial for allegedly defrauding a German company of $1 million over 30 years ago, when the accused was still a young man.
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court erred in granting Ajudua bail and ordered him returned to correctional centre custody.
It further directed Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court to resume hearing of the criminal trial against Ajudua.
The businessman was initially charged before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of Ikeja High Court.
However, the case was later re-filed by EFCC and reassigned to Justice Dada.
At his re-arraignment on July 6, 2018, Justice Dada denied Ajudua’s bail application on health grounds.
The judge stressed that the matter had endured repeated delays for over 13 years.
He had said: “I am not persuaded. This case is one of the oldest in Lagos State. Bail is refused and the defendant is to be remanded in prison custody.”
On the heels of the ruling, counsel to Ajudua, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, headed for the Lagos Division, Court of Appeal, where Justice Garba overturned Justice Dada’s verdict.
According to him, bail is a constitutional right with the judge granting bail to Ajudua under his previous bail conditions.
However, unhappy with the decision, EFCC headed for the apex court which has now handed Ajudua a fresh stay in prison.
