EFCC to Arraign Ajudua for Allegedly Defrauding Gen. Bamaiyi of $8.395m

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has given its leave to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign a Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua come February 12, 2014 for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of about $8.395m.

Ajudua arraignment meant to come up at a proceeding presided over by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye was altered resulting from his failure to appear in court.


The anti-graft agency alleged Ajudua along side Alumile Adedeji (a.k.a Ade Bendel) one Keneth and Princess Hamabon William, who are now at large defrauded Bamaiyi at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, where he and the other fraud suspects were on remand for various crimes between November 2004 and June 2005.

The fresh charges dated October 14, 2013 comprise 13 counts of conspiracy and fraud. The offences of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences were said to be contrary to Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act. No. 13 of 1995 as amended by Act No. 62 of 1999.

According to EFCC, the suspects had fraudulently collected the money from Bamaiyi by falsely claiming that it was part of the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to facilitate his release from prison.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Ajudua and others fraudulently claimed that $1m out of the total money collected from Bamaiyi was for financial assistance for the treatment of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole's father.

The suspects were said to have claimed to Bamaiyi that Oyewole's father was admitted at Saint Nicholas in Lagos and the $1m was meant to assist the judge in treating his father.

In his submission, Ajudua's counsel, Richard Ahoharuogha told the court that his client only became aware of the matter on Saturday. He added that his client was unable to attend court proceeding  because he fell ill.
Following this, the lawyer then sought an adjournment to enable Ajudua to appear before the court.

Similarly, EFCC counsel, Mr. Seidu Atteh,  also said it only came to the commission's knowledge, that the matter had been assigned to a judge last Friday.

In her ruling, Justice Ipaye adjourned till February 12, 2014 for the arraignment, ordering that warrant of production should be served on the prison authority to produce Ajudua at the next hearing date.

dailytimes