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.