Alleged $1.043m Fraud: Supreme Court Strikes Out Ajudua’s Motion, Bail Hearing Resumes in Lower Court
The Supreme Court on Thursday, October 30, 2025 struck out a motion filed by socialite Fred Ajudua challenging its earlier judgment in the ongoing $1.043 million fraud case involving a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf. Ajudua, had before the apex court’s ruling, filed a notice to withdraw the motion. Following this development, trial proceedings resumed on Friday, October 31, 2025, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. At the resumed hearing, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, informed the court that the defence had withdrawn its application at the Supreme Court, and it has been struck out thereby clearing the way for the trial court to determine the pending bail application. Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly obtaining $1,043,000 (One Million, Forty-Three Thousand Dollars) from Abu Zalaf under false pretences. The case, which began in 2005 before Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos State High Court, suffered repeated delays as the defendant reportedly employed several legal technicalities to stall proceedings. The matter has since been reassigned multiple times, first to Justice J.E. Oyefeso and later to Justice M.A. Dada, before whom Ajudua was re-arraigned on June 4, 2018. During Friday’s proceedings, Ojo continued the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). When questioned about the existence of a police investigation diary, Emmanuel told the court that he inherited the case and was not part of the initial investigation. Justice Dada consequently directed the prosecution to produce the records at the next adjourned date. The judge adjourned the case till November 20 and 21, 2025, for continuation of the cross-examination.
