Nigerian businessman Fred Ajudua has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. His arrest follows a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a previous bail granted to him by the Court of Appeal.
According to The Punch, EFCC agents apprehended Ajudua on Tuesday. He remains in EFCC custody pending his re-arraignment on charges related to a long-standing fraud case.
The case accuses Ajudua of defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000. A source from within the EFCC confirmed his arrest, stating: “We have arrested Ajudua pending his re-arraignment in court. He was arrested in Abuja on Tuesday, and he’s in our custody as we speak.”
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment when contacted.
The Supreme Court ruling, delivered on Friday, May 5, 2025, nullified the bail earlier granted by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in September 2018. Justice Dada, who originally heard the case in June 2018, had denied bail due to its complicated nature. That decision was later overturned by the Appeal Court, prompting the EFCC to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
The apex court ruled in EFCC’s favor, reinstating Justice Dada’s original order and instructing the Chief Judge of Lagos State to reassign the case to her for continued trial proceedings.
Ajudua is expected to return to court shortly as the legal process resumes.
Article updated 2 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
