Fred Ajudua Remanded In Prison Over 419

JUSTICE Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of alleged fraudster, Mr Fred Ajudua, in prison.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, the judge ordered that the defendant, who had absonded from his trial since 2005, be remanded and should remain in prison custody till June 24, when the court will hear his bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ajudua and his co-defendant, Charles Hijiudu, in 2003,  for allegedly defrauding two foreigners, Mr  Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of about $1.69 million between July 1999 and September 2000.

Justice Oyewole, had in January 2006, issued a bench warrant directing the police to arrest the defendant and bring him to court, as he had continued to miss trials at diverse adjourned dates.

The court, in a ruling on Tuesday, held that, “the first defendant ceased to be on bail since December 15, 2005, when his bail was revoked.

“The case has been held up, as the agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been unable to execute the warrant of arrest issued on January 24, 2005.

“The first defendant is, hereby, ordered to be remanded in prison.

“The Superintendent of Prison shall ensure that the accused is given unrestricted access to medical treatment, which include being taken to the Lagos state Teaching Hospital (LUTH) as an outpatient when occasions demand,”  the court ruled.

The police had been unable to execute the court’s order of arrest since it was issued in January 2006 and the defence had applied to have the order revoked.

But Mr Wemimo Ogunde, who represented the EFCC on Tuesday,  had opposed the application seeking the reversal of the order of arrest.

Justice Oyewole, however, reversed the order of arrest, following the accused’s appearance in court.

The judge explained that  since the accused’s bail had been revoked, it would still remain  for him to convince the court if he was worthy of being released on bail.

The case was adjourned till June 24 for hearing of Ajudua’s bail application.

Justice Oyewole also rejected the appeal by the defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, for the remand of the accused in EFCC custody.

He further declined an alternative appeal to give the defendant access to treatment as an outpatient at the LUTH.