The trial of a suspected serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, who was
charged with a $8.4m fraud before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the
Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos was, on Tuesday,
February 27, 2018, stalled due to his absence in court.
Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief
of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of the sum of
$8.4m, while they were both in custody in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos
in 2004.
Ajudua, together with his accomplices, had allegedly approached
Bamaiyi and convinced him that he could secure his freedom and also
secure legal services on his behalf.
At today’s sitting, counsel to Ajudua, Allen Agbaka, told the
court about the current medical status of Ajudua and also sought an
adjournment of the proceedings.
In his address, Agbaka stated that Ajudua was “evacuated to
India on February 8, 2018 for urgent medical attention”, following
a referral to Ruby Hall Clinic, India for surgery.
Agbaka further added that the defendant had written a letter to
the court and attached his international passport, Visa documents,
medical reports from Ruby Hall Clinic, India as well as photographs
showing him on a hospital bed in India.
Ajudua’s lawyer, who said copies of the documents had been
served on the prosecution counsel, S.K.Atteh, urged the court to
adjourn the case for three to six months or sine die.
However, in his response, the prosecution counsel, Atteh, told
the court that the medical challenges of the defendant had delayed
the commencement of the trial.
He, therefore, prayed the court to try the defendant in
absentia, “since the matter has been long in court.”
Justice Oyefeso adjourned the case to May 23 and 28 May, 2018
for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be
present in court at the next adjourned date.
The trial of a suspected serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, who was
charged with a $8.4m fraud before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the
Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos was, on Tuesday,
February 27, 2018, stalled due to his absence in court.
Ajudua is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief
of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of the sum of
$8.4m, while they were both in custody in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos
in 2004.
Ajudua, together with his accomplices, had allegedly approached
Bamaiyi and convinced him that he could secure his freedom and also
secure legal services on his behalf.
At today’s sitting, counsel to Ajudua, Allen Agbaka, told the
court about the current medical status of Ajudua and also sought an
adjournment of the proceedings.
In his address, Agbaka stated that Ajudua was “evacuated to
India on February 8, 2018 for urgent medical attention”, following
a referral to Ruby Hall Clinic, India for surgery.
Agbaka further added that the defendant had written a letter to
the court and attached his international passport, Visa documents,
medical reports from Ruby Hall Clinic, India as well as photographs
showing him on a hospital bed in India.
Ajudua’s lawyer, who said copies of the documents had been
served on the prosecution counsel, S.K.Atteh, urged the court to
adjourn the case for three to six months or sine die.
However, in his response, the prosecution counsel, Atteh, told
the court that the medical challenges of the defendant had delayed
the commencement of the trial.
He, therefore, prayed the court to try the defendant in
absentia, “since the matter has been long in court.”
Justice Oyefeso adjourned the case to May 23 and 28 May, 2018
for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be
present in court at the next adjourned date.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/8-4m-fraud-again-ajuduas-absence-in-court-stalls-trial/