Failure Of Court Registrars To Issue Production Warrant Stalls Fred Ajudua’s Trial
Failure of court registrars to issue a production warrant to the authorities at the Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, on Monday stalled the trial of Fred Ajudua, at Ikeja High Court.
Ajudua, a Lagos socialite and businessman is facing trial for allegedly defrauding Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), a former Chief of Army Staff of $8.4million.
Justice Josephine Oyefeso was to give a ruling on Ajudua’s application seeking to quash the fraud charges proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The production warrant which was not issued, was necessary documentation to ensure Ajudua’s attendance in court for his trial.
Counsel to Ajudua, Mr Alex Agbaka said, “We are aware that the necessary documents to ensure the defendant’s attendance were not served on the prison authorities.”
Justice Oyefeso enquired if the court registrars had issued an apology to Agbaka and Mr Temitope Banjo, prosecution counsel for the EFCC, the court registrars answered in the affirmative.
Consequently, Justice Oyefeso cautioned them against a repeat of the omission and she adjourned the case until Sept. 27 for the ruling.
Ajudua, allegedly defrauded the former Chief of Army Staff of $8.4million while they were both custody in Kirikiri Prisons in 2004.
Bamaiyi was in custody for treason while Ajudua was in custody for fraud related offences.
Ajudua, alongside some accomplices, had allegedly approached Bamaiyi and convinced him that he could hire the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to help secure his freedom with Bamaiyi giving Ajudua $8.4million as legal fees.
When the alleged fraud came to light, the law chambers of Afe Babalola and Co issued a disclaimer disassociating itself from the case.