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$1.43m scam: Ajudua on the run as Supreme Court orders his return to prison
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The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate remand of Lagos-based businessman and socialite, Fred Ajudua, in connection with a $1.43 million fraud case dating back over three decades.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Friday, the apex court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier granted Ajudua bail.
The court held that the appellate court erred in its judgment and directed that Ajudua be returned to correctional custody without delay.
It was learned that Ajudua is now in hiding following the court’s decision.
“Ajudua escaped after the Supreme Court ordered that he should be returned to prison,”, a source disclosed and its currently unclear if he is still in Nigeria.
The case, which has spanned more than 30 years, stems from allegations that Ajudua defrauded a German company of $1.43 million through an advance fee fraud scheme—commonly referred to as a “419” scam in Nigeria.
A letter dated August 26, 1993, from the Embassy of the State of Palestine accused Ajudua of obtaining the funds under false pretence from one Ziad Abu Zalaf, a Palestinian businessman based in Germany. The funds were allegedly siphoned under the pretext of business transactions with Nigerian government agencies.
It was gathered that Ajudua and his accomplice, Mr. Joseph Ochunor, fraudulently collected sums of $268,000 and $225,000 from Zalaf on April 2 and May 12, 1993, respectively. They forged official documents, including receipts from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to make the transactions appear legitimate.
Following an extensive investigation, a 12-count charge was filed against Ajudua before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Initially arraigned before Justice Josephine Oyefeso, the case was later reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada following a refiling of charges.
Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), later approached the Court of Appeal, where a panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba granted bail on the grounds of constitutional rights and allowed the businessman to continue under his existing bail terms.
However, In its decision on appeal number SC/CR/51/2019, the Supreme Court, through Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, ruled that the Court of Appeal acted outside its jurisdiction by granting bail after striking out Ajudua’s brief of argument for incompetence. The apex court held that any judgment or relief stemming from such a defective brief was legally void.
The Supreme Court further ordered that trial resume before Justice Dada of the Lagos State High Court without further delay.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun
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