Justice Mojisola of Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, was yesterday told that Mr. Fred Chijindu Ajudua none appearance in court was due to the treatment he is currently receiving at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, SAN, disclosed this to the court; saying the Ikoyi Medium Correctional Facility had communicated to the trial court confirming that the defendant is receiving treatment at LUTH, reports Daily Independent.
The counsel told the court told that after the Supreme Court judgement on 9th May 9, 2024, he alongside Senator Ned Nwoko representing the defendant senatorial district in Upper Chambers accompanied him to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in compliance to the judgement of the Supreme Court.
“My lord I’m aware that the correctional centre has written a letter to the court about the defendant being receiving treatment in LUTH.
“After the Supreme Court delivered it’s judgement on May 9th, 2025, in total obedience to the judgement of the Supreme Court when the defendant read it online, he surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) at its headquarters in Abuja on the 13th May, 2025.
“On that day he was accompanied Senator Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly. I led them to the EFCC office, even when we don’t have access to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the Supreme Court,” Ojo said.
Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Seidu Atteh told the court that the business of the day was the continuation of the prosecution case and they are ready to go on with the matter.
He also told the court that the EFCC has two witnesses in court who are ready to be led by the prosecution.
“We have two witnesses in court who are ready for this case today. One of the witnesses is from Enugu while the second one is from Port Harcourt.
According to the suit, the EFCC, had alleged that Ajudua conspired with Joseph Ochunor, who is still at large to obtain money by false pretenses from Zaid Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited.., a division of Mystic Limited.., a German based firm.
It also alleged that with intent to defraud, Ajudua and Ochunor obtained $268, 000 on April 2, 1993 as well as $225, 000 from Zalaf.
“The EFCC further claimed that Ajudua and Ochunor in a bid to give credence to the alleged scam, forged Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation receipts and presented same as original.”
The matter has been adjourned to July 30, 2025.
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