A Lagos court has denied a fresh bail application filed by Fred Ajudua, who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000. The court refused the application due to a pending appeal at the Supreme Court.
Ajudua, who is accused of defrauding the Palestinian businessman under false pretenses, appeared in court under medical supervision from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). His counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, argued for bail on health grounds, but the prosecution opposed the request, citing a pending appeal at the Supreme Court.
The prosecution called its third witness, Bashir Emmanuel Afanda, an EFCC operative, who detailed how the defendant's case was transferred from the Nigeria Police to the EFCC between 2005 and 2011. Afanda testified that investigations involved letters and documents linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce.
Justice Mojisola Dada admitted Exhibits P1 and P2 into evidence but rejected the forensic report and CBN documents marked Exhibits 3 and 4, siding with the defence's objection. The defence argued that the documents were uncertified and not authored by the witness.
Ajudua has been at the center of one of Nigeria's most protracted fraud trials, stemming from allegations dating back to 1993. He allegedly defrauded a German businessman, Michael Kramer, of $550,000 in 1993 and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of 8.4 million while both were incarcerated at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos in 2004.
The matter has been adjourned till October 10, October 31, and November 20, 2025, for continuation of trial .
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