KEY POINTS
- EFCC arrested Fred Ajudua in Abuja on Supreme Court orders.
- He allegedly defrauded a businessman of over $1 million.
- His trial will resume soon at the Lagos High Court.
Fred Ajudua, a businessman and socialite from Lagos, was taken into custody by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission agents in Abuja on Tuesday morning.
Supreme Court revokes Fred Ajudua bail in fraud case
Following a Supreme Court decision that revoked Ajudua’s bail and mandated his confinement in a correctional facility, the EFCC took action.
In a lengthy criminal case, Ajudua is on trial for allegedly robbing Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf of \$1,043,000.
Officers from the EFCC arrested Ajudua, who is still being held there till he is re-arraigned in front of the Lagos High Court.
Speaking anonymously because they were not permitted to speak to the media directly, a top EFCC official confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.
“Ajudua was taken into custody in Abuja. He is still in our care and will appear in court shortly,” the officer stated.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, declined to comment on the arrest or any further information on the upcoming court appearance.
The Supreme Court decided in favor of the EFCC on May 5, 2025, rescinding Ajudua’s bail and directing his incarceration.
The top court has reversed the Lagos Court of Appeal’s September 10, 2018, bail-granting ruling.
Due to several judge reassignments within the Lagos High Court system, the case, which started in 2005, saw numerous delays.
The case was heard by Justice Morenike Obadina at first, then by Justices Josephine Oyefeso and Mojisola Dada.
In June 2018, Justice Dada refused to grant Ajudua bail, noting the lengthy and intricate nature of the long-standing fraud accusations.
Fred Ajudua bail revocation leads to trial resumption
The Court of Appeal granted Ajudua bail after he appealed the decision, which the EFCC later contested in the Supreme Court.
According to Punch, the Supreme Court reinstated the initial decision that granted Ajudua bail in the criminal case and upheld the EFCC’s appeal.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State was also instructed by the justices to transfer the case to Justice Dada for further prosecution.
The EFCC is ready to present its case, and Ajudua is anticipated to be re-arraigned as soon as the trial commences.
