Ajudua Battling Chronic Kidney Disease & Severe Hypertension – Says Lawyer

The trial of socialite Fred Ajudua before Justice M.A. Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, continued on Friday, with his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informing the court that his client is battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension.

Ajudua, who is facing trial for allegedly obtaining $1,043,000 from a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, under fraudulent circumstances, appeared in court despite his health challenges.

Ojo told the court that his client had withdrawn a motion earlier filed before the Supreme Court to allow the lower court to deliver its pending ruling on his bail application.

The senior lawyer explained that the motion, filed on June 24, 2025, was formally withdrawn at the Supreme Court on August 22, 2025, and an affidavit alongside the notice of withdrawal had been submitted to the court.

“We decided to withdraw the motion we filed at the Supreme Court to allow this Honourable Court to deliver its ruling on the bail application,” Ojo said. He added that Ajudua’s decision to appear in person, despite his deteriorating health, was in fulfillment of his legal undertakings.

The prosecution counsel, Seidu Atteh, however, argued that the trial court should await a formal pronouncement from the Supreme Court before proceeding. “When you file a motion before the court, it is given a number. The applicant has the right to withdraw, but they must wait for a Supreme Court ruling,” he said, noting that the prosecution had already filed a counter-affidavit and a written address on September 26, 2025.

During the proceedings, the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was cross-examined by the defence. Emmanuel testified that he first met Ajudua in 2005 after the EFCC had been established, adding that the defendant’s case file was transferred from the Police Special Fraud Unit to the EFCC’s Advance Fee Fraud Section.

He told the court that the EFCC reached out to several institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Commission’s forensic laboratory, during its investigation. The witness also confirmed that he interviewed the complainant, Zad Abu Zalaf, and another individual, Michel Opkema.

Emmanuel further stated that he visited Ajudua at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and had documented proof of the visit. According to him, statements earlier made by Ajudua to the Police formed part of the EFCC’s investigation report.

The case was adjourned till October 31, 2025, for continuation of trial.