Supreme Court dismisses Ajudua’s motion in $1.043m fraud trial

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Supreme Court on Thursday, struck out a motion filed by socialite Fred Ajudua, who sought to challenge its earlier judgment in the long-running $1.043 million fraud case involving Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf.

Before the apex court’s decision, Ajudua had filed a notice of withdrawal of the motion, prompting the court to strike it out.

Following the development, proceedings in the case resumed on Friday, 31 October 2025, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the resumed sitting, Ajudua’s counsel, Chief Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the Supreme Court had struck out the withdrawn application, thereby clearing the way for the trial court to consider his client’s pending bail request.

Ajudua is being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding Abu Zalaf of $1,043,000 under false pretences.

The case, which originated in 2005 before Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos State High Court, has suffered several adjournments and reassignments, reportedly due to a series of legal applications filed by the defendant.

After multiple transfers, the case was eventually reassigned to Justice M.A. Dada, before whom Ajudua was re-arraigned on 4 June 2018.

During Friday’s hearing, Ojo continued the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

When asked about the existence of a police investigation diary, Emmanuel stated that he had inherited the case and was not part of the original investigation team.

Justice Dada subsequently ordered the prosecution to produce the relevant records at the next adjourned date and fixed further hearing for 20 and 21 November 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.