A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, was on Friday approached for a fresh bail application by Fred Ajudua, after losing his bid at the Supreme Court on May 9.

Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian national, Mr. Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000 under false pretences.

The defendant, who appeared in court dressed in a white native attire and leaning on a walking stick, informed the court through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), that he had filed a notice of withdrawal of his application at the Supreme Court to pave the way for the high court to rule on his bail application.

Ojo told the court, “We decided to withdraw the motion we filed at the Supreme Court to allow this Honourable Court to deliver its ruling on the bail application.”

The defence counsel tendered an affidavit and a copy of the notice of withdrawal as evidence before the court.

He explained that although Ajudua was battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, he insisted on appearing in court to comply with his legal obligations.

Ojo urged the court to proceed with the ruling on the bail request.

Naijaonpoint reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, opposed the fresh bail bid.

Prosecuting counsel, Seidu Atteh, told Justice Mojisola Dada that the application filed at the Supreme Court remained on the cause list, and the trial court ought to await the apex court’s formal pronouncement on the withdrawal.

Atteh said, “The defendant will need to produce the order of the Supreme Court either dismissing or striking out the notice of withdrawal. We urge the trial court to await the decision of the Supreme Court.”

In her ruling, Justice Dada upheld the EFCC’s objection, stating that the court must ensure due process.

She said, “This court being a court of record must be satisfied that the notice of withdrawal is before the Supreme Court and same must be considered with the outcome filed in this court…”

The court thereafter proceeded with the continuation of trial.

During cross-examination, the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an investigator with the EFCC, narrated how the anti-graft agency handled the case.

Emmanuel told the court that he joined the EFCC in 2009 and became involved after the defendant’s case file was transferred from the Police Special Fraud Unit to the EFCC’s Advance Fee Fraud Section.

According to him, the commission contacted several institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its forensic lab, in the course of investigations.

NAIJAONPOINT confirmed interviewing the complainant, Zad Abu Zalaf, and another individual, Mr. Michel Opkema. He also stated that he visited Ajudua at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and documented the interaction.

He noted that Ajudua’s statements to the police formed part of the EFCC’s investigation report, although no fresh statements were taken from him by the EFCC.

Cross-examination was temporarily halted when Ajudua requested to use the restroom. Upon his return, he informed his counsel that he had noticed blood while relieving himself.

Ojo immediately sought an adjournment to enable his client attend to his health needs.

Justice Dada thereafter adjourned the case to October 31, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.