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Court Dismisses Ajudua’s Application To Quash 419 Charges

A Lagos High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by Fred Ajudua, seeking to quash charges bordering on fraud instituted against him by the … Continue reading Court Dismisses Ajudua’s Application To Quash 419 Charges


A Lagos High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by Fred Ajudua, seeking to quash charges bordering on fraud instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ajudua, who  is facing trial for allegedly duping two Dutch businessmen of about $ 1.7 million prayed the court to quash the charges against him.

The application was however dismissed by Justice Oyewole for lack of merit.

Ajudua has been facing the charges since 2003 when he was first arraigned. He however applied for bail to enable him seek treatment for a kidney related ailment in India after which he failed to show up for hearing for years.

Even after his bail was revoked, his counsel maintained that he was in India receiving medical attention.

After eight years of absconding from trial, Mr. Ajudua was re-arraigned on June 11, to answer the charges of defrauding two foreigners, Messrs Remy Gina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.69million.

The crime was said to have been committed between July 1999 and September 2000.

Mr. Ajudua yesterday told the court to quash the charges on the grounds that one of his victims has announced his intention to discontinue with the case. The prosecution team however averred that the fact that only one witness has opted to discontinue should not be considered as there are still more witnesses.