The Supreme Court on Friday struck out a motion filed by alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua after his counsel formally withdrew the application challenging an earlier apex court judgment.
In the same sitting, the court dismissed an appeal by Mr. Abubakar Ali Peters, Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited, who had sought to overturn a Court of Appeal ruling revoking his bail and imposing new conditions. Peters also requested leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, which the Supreme Court declined, directing him instead to return to the trial court to conclude his criminal case.
Meanwhile, at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, where Ajudua is standing trial, he withdrew a fresh bail application on Friday before Justice Mojisola Dada. Represented by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Ajudua, who suffers from chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, appeared in court to comply with his undertakings. Ojo said the withdrawal of the Supreme Court motion was to allow the high court to proceed with the bail request.
EFCC counsel Seidu Atteh did not oppose the withdrawal but urged the court to await official confirmation from the Supreme Court that the motion had been formally struck out. Justice Dada agreed, stating the trial court must ensure the apex court had formally dealt with the withdrawal before proceeding.
Trial proceedings then continued, with the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an EFCC investigator, testifying that the Commission had contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and its forensic laboratory during investigations into Ajudua’s alleged $1.043 million fraud against Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf.
During cross-examination, the witness confirmed visiting Ajudua at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and interviewing several witnesses.
The trial has been adjourned to November 20 and 21, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.
