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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.
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE, OPEP, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, have arrested a suspected kidnapper linked to the abduction of a resident in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
This was contained in a statement posted on X by the Nigerian Army.
The post identified the suspect as Buba Ali, 30, adding that he was arrested at about 12:45 pm on Sunday, August 9, at Binawa village in Kauru Local Government Area.
According to post, the suspect was arrested during a joint operation conducted by troops of Sector 7 OPEP and members of the CJTF.
It said the suspect was reportedly linked to the kidnapping of Alhaji Tasi, who was abducted in the village.
“Following his arrest, Ali was taken into custody and is currently being interrogated by security personnel.
“The ongoing investigation is focused on obtaining information that could lead to the identification and arrest of other members of the suspected kidnapping gang,” the Army said.
Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected claims by an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, that Nigeria is a Muslim country.
In a viral video, Sheikh Jingir, who was preaching to Muslims at an event, said “if you don’t want to accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, you should leave Nigeria because it belongs to us”.
The comment has continued to generate backlash online as Christians rejected the claim.
Reacting, Fani-kayode in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday night, said the cleric’s remark is unhelpful and untrue.
“Worse of all is the fact that it is highly provocative,” the former aviation minister said.
“Kindly take note that it is a very slippery and dangerous slope to take and is best avoided. Nigeria is NOT a Muslim country and neither is she a Christian country.
“She is a SECULAR and MULTI-RELIGIOUS state comprising BOTH Christians and Muslims in equal numbers and that is our strength,” FFK added.
He further stated that President Bola Tinubu’s Muslim/Muslim ticket for 2027 is gaining acceptance “only because of the calibre, ability, sincerity of purpose, character, utility and electoral strength of our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and their ability to deliver and not because they are Muslims”.
“One day we may have a Christian/Christian ticket too because with God all things are possible,” he added.
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the release of the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Moyowa Adejoorin, who was arrested in connection with a shooting incident at an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Ilesa.
The incident occurred on Saturday and reportedly left four people injured, including a teenager identified as Tobi Ilesanmi.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adejoorin was taken into custody after police officers arrived at the scene, secured the area and began collecting evidence.
According to Ojelabi, the commissioner’s vehicle was stopped at the location, where an Amotekun operative allegedly linked to the shooting was also found.
“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.
“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” Ojelabi said.
The development came amid heightened attention to the incident after a video circulated on social media on Sunday showing Adejoorin leaving the police command.
Confirming the development, Ojelabi told Vanguard that the commissioner had been released on bail but said he was still awaiting clarification on the status of the Amotekun operative who was arrested alongside him.
“It is true that the commissioner has been released on bail today, but I am yet to clear the situation with the Amotekun personnel arrested with him,” he said.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting are ongoing.
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