The Supreme Court on Friday struck out a motion filed by alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua after his counsel formally withdrew the application challenging an earlier judgment of the apex court.
In the same sitting, the court also declined to hear an appeal by Mr. Abubakar Ali Peters, Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited, who sought to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision revoking his bail and imposing new conditions.
Peters had also requested permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, but the Supreme Court rejected the plea and directed him to return to the trial court to conclude his ongoing criminal case.
Following the withdrawal of his motion at the apex court, Ajudua appeared before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, to pursue a fresh bail application in his continuing fraud trial.
Ajudua, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a notice of withdrawal of his Supreme Court motion to enable the high court to proceed with its ruling on the bail request.
Ojo told the court that his client, who is battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, personally appeared to comply with his legal undertakings.
However, EFCC counsel Seidu Atteh opposed the move, arguing that the motion Ajudua sought to withdraw was “still listed at the Supreme Court.” He urged the trial court to await confirmation from the apex court that the motion had been formally struck out.
Justice Dada agreed with the prosecution, stating that the court must be satisfied that the notice of withdrawal had been dealt with by the Supreme Court before proceeding.
The court thereafter continued with the trial.
The third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an EFCC investigator, testified that the Commission contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and its forensic laboratory during investigations into Ajudua’s alleged $1.043 million fraud against a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf.
During cross-examination, NAIJAONPOINT confirmed visiting Ajudua at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and interviewing key witnesses.
The proceedings were briefly interrupted when Ajudua requested a toilet break and later complained of bleeding, prompting his lawyer to seek an adjournment for medical attention.