Alleged $8.4m Fraud: Ajudua's application stalls re-arraignment

The preliminary objection made by Lagos socialite and businessman, Fred Ajudua, challenging the competence of the amended charge made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today stalled his planned re-arraignment.

Specifically, Ajudua argued that the amended charge will over-reach or prejudice the decision of the pending appeal before the Court of Appeal sitting in Igbosere, Lagos where he is questioning the jurisdiction of Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, alongside the competency of the amended information.

Ajudua who at Friday's proceeding on the matter addressed the court through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo said, "The subject matter of the Appeal No: CA/L/242/2014 – Ajudua VS FRN arose from same facts in the amended information. The investigation upon which the information is framed and filled is shoddy and inconclusive because filling of an information before a court presupposes that the investigation has been concluded."

It would be recalled that Ajudua is facing charges initiated against him by the EFCC over alleged collection of $8.4 million owned by the former Chief of Army Staff, Leutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi while the duo were being held at the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

According to the anti-graft agency, Ajudua alongside others now at large allegedly defrauded  the former army chief through what it termed
false claims that the said sum represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle Bamaiyi’s case and to facilitate his release from prison.

The defendant who had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge earlier in an application insisted that Bamaiyi be put on trial for admitting that he offered bribe. But the court dismissed the application.

At the last hearing on the matter,  Ajudua informed the court that  he had issues with his lawyer which according to him is yet to be resolved. However, inspite of the defendant's position, the anti-graft agency intimated the court that the earlier charge made against Ajudua has been amended.

Despite the development, EFCC counsel informed the court that the initial charged against Ajudua has been amended. But the charge was not read on the reason that the defendant was not represented by any lawyer.

According to the amended charge instituted by the anti-graft agency, Ajudua was alleged to have cajoled and swindled General Bamaiyi of $330,000 (three hundred and thirty thousand dollar) while he was in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

At various times during the period, Ajudua, Alumile Adedeji a.k.a Ade Bendel (still at large), Mr. Jonathan (still at large), Mr. Keneth (still at large) Princess Hamabon Willam (still at large) and others allegedly collected about $8.3million US dollar from the retired army general while in prison custody.

The matter has been adjourned till July 30