The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the bail granted to Lagos-based businessman and former socialite Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate return to prison over a decades-old fraud case.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Friday, the apex court held that the Court of Appeal erred by granting bail to Ajudua, who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a German company of $1 million through an advance fee fraud scheme dating back more than 30 years.
The Supreme Court also directed Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court to resume trial proceedings immediately.
Once a prominent figure in Lagos social circles during the 1990s and early 2000s, Ajudua has long faced multiple high-profile fraud allegations.
His legal troubles trace back to the early 1990s, when he was first accused of orchestrating a $1 million scam against a German businessman.
Originally arraigned before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos High Court, the case was later refiled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and reassigned to Justice Dada.
At his re-arraignment on July 6, 2018, Ajudua sought bail on health grounds.
However, Justice Dada rejected the application, emphasizing the case’s long history and the need to avoid further delays.
“This case is one of the oldest in Lagos State. Bail is refused and the defendant is to be remanded in prison custody,” Justice Dada ruled, according to Channels TV.
Ajudua’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), subsequently approached the Court of Appeal in Lagos, challenging the lower court’s decision.
The appellate court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, overturned Justice Dada’s ruling, affirming Ajudua’s right to bail.
The appellate court ruled that bail was a constitutional entitlement and allowed Ajudua to remain on bail under existing conditions.
Unhappy with the appellate decision, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
The anti-graft agency argued that the Court of Appeal had overlooked the gravity of the charges and the prolonged delays that had characterized the case.
Agreeing with the EFCC, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of revoking the bail, ordering Ajudua’s remand and a resumption of trial under Justice Dada’s oversight.
