Fraud: Ajudua Granted Bail Again.

Relief once again came the way of embattled lawyer and socialite, Chief Fred Ajudua as a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja granted him bail. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ajudua and his co-accused, Charles Hijiudu, in 2003 for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Mr. Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of about $1.69million between July 1999 and September 2000. But for eight years, Ajudua could not show up for his trial until he appeared on June 11, 2013 to continue with his trial before Justice Joseph Oyewole of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja. He was subsequently remanded in prison custody by the order of the court. All efforts by his lawyer, Allens Agbaka, to restore the revoked bail of Ajudua failed as Justice Oyewole turned down his bail application on June 27 on the ground that previous undertakings and concessions granted the accused were not honoured by him.

But on August 3, Ajudua was said to have suffered, “serious health complications at about 2p.m and had to be rushed to the medical facility of the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, where he was being held in custody.” He was later admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for kidney-related medical complications.
Ruling on a fresh bail application brought by counsel to Ajudua, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, last week, Justice Ganiyu Safari granted the prayers  on the ground that his ill-health constituted an “exceptional circumstance,” for the court to grant him bail.

Safari stated that Ajudua was suffering from complicated ailments which needed proper medical treatment unavailable at the prison facility. He said a medical report dated August 13, issued by one Dr. Adebisi Ogunjimi of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), showed that Ajudua was rushed to the hospital on August 3. “There is no doubt that the medical condition of an applicant can warrant the granting of bail in exceptional circumstances,” the court said.
Justice Safari confirmed that Ajudua, was having difficulty in passing urine and was also hypertensive and had a solitary kidney.

According to the judge, Ajudua’s health condition should not be allowed to worsen while the trial was still going on. He then gave him a bail bond of N50million and two sureties in like sum. Safari, however, stated that Ajudua’s new bail warranted a sterner term in view of his antecedent, having jumped bail in 2005 after he went to Grant Medical Foundation, India for treatment. The court disclosed that the accused missed 40 court sittings, which stalled the conclusion of his matter, which started on May 16, 2003. Ajudua was, however, ordered to deposit his international passport with the Chief Registrar and must not travel outside Nigeria without the permission of the court.

SUNNEWSONLINE.COM