adjourned a case against fraud suspect, Fred
Ajudua, accused of massive advance fee
fraud.
Justice Olubunmi Oyewole set October
10, 2013 as the date for the resumption of
the trial.
When the case was called up today, Mr.
Ajudua's counsel, Mr. Uwensuye Edosonwan,
told the court that his client's health
suddenly "nose-dived." Our correspondent
reported that the case has dragged on for a
while due to Mr. Ajudua's incessant use of
excuses of ill health.
A lawyer by training, Mr. Ajudua shot to
infamy in the late 1980s and 1990s as he
acquired stupendous wealth that prosecutors
ascribe to advance fee fraud, otherwise
called 419. He reportedly targeted wealthy
foreigners with his schemes that promised
huge windfalls. Those who fell for his
schemes were then defrauded of millions of
dollars that financed Mr. Ajudua's
flamboyant lifestyle complete with expensive
cars, jewelry, and swanky real estate.
Mr. Ajudua's defense counsel also hinted at
the prospects of settling the case directly
with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission. "Conversations are ongoing
between parties concerned and certain
agreements are being reached," the counsel
said. But he stated that the prosecution was
yet to receive detailed information
regarding the substance of the ongoing
discussion.
Mr. Olumuyiwa Balogun, a counsel for the
EFCC, confirmed that the prosecution was
engaged in talks with the defense.
On September 10, 2013, a stand-in judge,
Ganiyu Safari, granted bail to Mr. Ajudua,
who had earlier been denied bail by the
trial judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole.
Justice Oyewole had cited fear that the
suspect might jump bail and evade trial.
However, the "vacation" judge said he was
swayed by defense counsel's description of
Mr. Ajudua's failing health.
In granting the bail, Justice Safari said,
"The first defendant should not be made to
suffer due to his health condition while
undergoing trial… If he dies in custody, his
trial will come to an end." The EFCC has
since appealed the decision to grant bail to
the accused.
A source close to Mr. Ajudua claimed that
the suspect was undergoing treatment at the
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The EFCC arraigned Mr. Ajudua along with his
alleged accomplice, Charles Orie, for
allegedly defrauding Dutch businessmen, Remy
Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.69 million.
In a bid to stop the trial, the defense had
told court a few months ago that the victims
of the fraud had indicated their intention
not to continue with the trial. However, the
court upheld the prosecution's argument that
the trial must proceed. The court had ruled
that truncating the trial would amount to
abuse of process.
Adjourning the case to October 10, Justice
Oyewole stated that all trials at the new
division where he has been posted are on
fast track.
No comments:
Post a Comment