Court remands Fred Ajudua in prison over 10-year old fraud case

An Ikeja High Court has remanded a fraud suspect, Fred Ajudua, in prison over a charge preferred against him in 2003.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole gave the order when Ajudua appeared in court with a request for bail since the court had revoked the earlier one granted him on medical grounds in 2006.

Ajadua  had evaded trial since 2006.
The suspected fraudster was arraigned alongside Charles Orie, in 2003 for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.5 million between July 1999 and September 2000.

But he had refused to attend the trial, after being granted bail by Justice Oyewole.

The judge issued a warrant for his arrest since then but the police authorities could not produce him, prompting an unending adjournment in the matter.

Ajudua is a lawyer by training.
At Tuesday's proceedings, Justice Oyewole refused to hear Ajudua's request for bail and instead ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail application.

'The first defendant ceased to be on bail since December 15, 2006 when his bail was revoked. The case has been held up as the agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been unable to execute the warrant of arrest issued on January 24, 2005,' he said.

'The first defendant is hereby ordered to be remanded in prison. The Superintendent of Prison shall ensure that the accused is given unrestricted access medical treatment including being taken to LUTH as an outpatient when occasions demand,' the judge ordered.

The matter has been adjourned till June 24 for the hearing of the bail application.