The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, today learned that Mr Fred Chijindu Ajudua, facing charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences, was absent from court due to ongoing medical treatment at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.
His counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN, informed Justice Mojisola Dada that the Ikoyi Medium Correctional Facility had officially communicated Ajudua's hospitalisation to the court.
Ojo further detailed that following a Supreme Court judgment on May 9, 2024, Ajudua, accompanied by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing the Delta North Senatorial District, had voluntarily surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on May 13, 2025.
This move, according to Ojo, was in full compliance with the Supreme Court's directive, even without immediate access to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.
"My Lord, I'm aware that the correctional centre has written a letter to the court about the defendant receiving treatment in LUTH," Ojo stated.
He emphasised Ajudua's obedience to the Supreme Court's judgment by surrendering despite the circumstances.
In response, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Seidu Atteh, expressed the prosecution's readiness to proceed with the case, informing the court that two witnesses, one from Enugu and another from Port Harcourt, were present and prepared to testify.
The EFCC's charges against Ajudua allege, among other things, that he conspired with Joseph Ochunor (who remains at large) to fraudulently obtain money from Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited, a division of the German-based firm, Mystic Limited.
Specifically, the prosecution claimed Ajudua and Ochunor obtained $268,000 on April 2, 1993, and an additional $225,000 from Zalaf.
To lend credibility to the alleged scam, the EFCC further claimed that Ajudua and Ochunor forged Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation receipts, presenting them as original documents.
Given Ajudua's medical condition, Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the matter to July 30, 2025, for further proceedings.
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