A one-time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, on Tuesday filed a fresh bail application before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye at an Ikeja High Court. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of $5.9m (about N1bn). He was arraigned on March 11 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 14 count of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences. During Tuesday’s proceedings, his counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, informed the court that the defendant’s bail application had been served on the EFCC. In the application, Ojo urged the court to grant Ajudua bail on liberal terms, adding that there was is overwhelming medical evidence that he was suffering from a life-threatening ailment. He said: “The defendant (Ajudua) is a kidney patient and his only surviving kidney is about to collapse. “The medical facility at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, where his health is seriously failing, cannot adequately meet his medical needs.” According to him, because of the peculiar and complicated nature of Ajudua’s ailment, he requires a specialist with Hi-tech medical equipment to manage his health effectively. Ojo said the defendant would abide with the terms of the bail and would not tamper with the prosecution witnesses. He also told the court that the defendant had filed another application asking for the inclusion of his extra-judicial statement in the proof of evidence. Responding, the EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, said he needed time to file replies to both applications, as they were served on the prosecution a few days ago. The judge granted his request and adjourned the matter till May 9, for hearing of the applications. NAN reports that Justice Kudirat Jose, also of an Ikeja High Court, had on March 31 dismissed Ajudua’s bail application. Ajudua is facing another $1.69m fraud charge before the judge.
