THE authorities of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons were on Thursday, ordered to produce alleged serial fraudster and one time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua so that he can stand trial for a $8.4 million fraud.
Ajudua was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Ishaya Bamaiyi, of the lump sum of money while they were both inmates at the Kirikiri prisons, lagos in 2004.
He had promised Bamaiyi that he could help him ‘reach out: to the judge handling his matter, an arrangement which Bamaiyi now found out to be false.
The case was however stalled on Thursday as the prison officials did not bring Ajudua to court.
The presiding Judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso, therefore, issued a production warrant to the authorities of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons to produce Ajudua for trial.
Explaining his absence to the court, Ajudua’s lawyer, Alex Agbaka said that he was surprised his client was not present in court.
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“We are surprised that the defendant is not in court. But we are aware that he is presently in the custody of the Kirkiri Maximum Prison, pursuant to an order made by your learned brother, Justice Mojisola Dada.
“Justice Dada issued his remand in a sister case titled: ID/16C/2005- Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Fred Ajudua.
“We are also aware that he took ill while in their custody and that maybe the reason for his absence today,” he said.
Justice Oyefeso thereafter adjourned the matter till September 24 for ruling and October 2 for continuation of trial.
Ajudua is also standing trial in a sister case where he was alleged to have defrauded one Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited, a German-based firm of one million dollars.
Ajudua pleaded not guilty to the twelve count charges bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
The EFCC alleged that Ajudua and his accomplice, Joseph Ochunor, had sometimes in 1993 carried out the act by forging Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, official receipt numbers 128 and 138 the bank issued to Zalaf as genuine.
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