Fred Ajudua has been arrested by the EFCC in Abuja over a $1.43 million fraud case after the Supreme Court docket revoked his bail. Learn full surprising particulars.
…. Controversial Lagos socialite faces the legislation once more after a long time of dodging justice over $1.43 million fraud
By All Info Newspaper – Abuja | Might 13, 2025
In a dramatic flip of occasions, operatives of the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) on Tuesday, Might 13, 2025, arrested embattled Lagos-based socialite and alleged fraud kingpin, Fred Ajudua, over a long-standing $1.43 million advance charge fraud.
The arrest adopted a Supreme Court docket order issued on Friday, Might 9, which revoked his bail and directed his remand at a Correctional Service facility. In keeping with a senior EFCC official who spoke to All Info Newspaper beneath anonymity, Ajudua was picked up in Abuja, the place he had allegedly gone into hiding in an try and evade legislation enforcement.
“Fred Ajudua is at present in EFCC custody and can stay there pending his re-arraignment. His bail was revoked final Friday, and the Fee acted swiftly,” the supply disclosed.
The arrest indicators a possible breakthrough in Nigeria’s decades-long battle to prosecute high-profile fraud instances, particularly these involving politically related elites and celebrities.
A Lengthy Historical past of Alleged Scams and Authorized Drama
Fred Ajudua’s identify has turn out to be synonymous with certainly one of Nigeria’s most high-profile fraud sagas, relationship again to 1993, when he was accused of duping a German businessman of $1.43 million in a basic 419 advance-fee rip-off.
Between 1999 and 2000, he allegedly defrauded two Dutch nationals of $1.69 million. However maybe most surprising was the 2004 allegation that Ajudua conned former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of a staggering $8.4 million whereas each males have been detained at Kirikiri Most Jail in Lagos.
Regardless of a 28-count cost filed by the EFCC in 2016, together with conspiracy and acquiring cash beneath false pretence, Ajudua managed to stall court docket proceedings by means of quite a few health-related bail functions, failed court docket appearances, and delays blamed on authorized technicalities.
Supreme Court docket Strikes In After Years of Delay
The Supreme Court docket’s choice to overturn the Lagos Court docket of Appeal’s earlier bail ruling sends a powerful sign in regards to the judiciary’s intent to crack down on impunity, particularly in white-collar and cyber fraud instances.
The court docket’s powerful stance comes amid rising public frustration over the shortcoming of Nigeria’s authorized system to carry influential {financial} crime suspects to justice.
Authorized observers say the apex court docket was moved by what it described as “flagrant abuse of court docket processes and serial delay techniques” employed by Ajudua over time.
Questions Round Enforcement and Compliance
The truth that Ajudua reportedly absconded after his preliminary arrest in January 2025 raises pink flags in regards to the weak spot of bail enforcement mechanisms. It additionally underscores the challenges confronted by Nigeria’s anti-graft companies in pursuing well-connected suspects who typically use the authorized system as a protect.
What’s Subsequent?
EFCC sources affirm that Ajudua shall be re-arraigned earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja on Tuesday, Might 13, 2025. There’s additionally a chance of recent fees being added to the prevailing ones because of his current bail violation.
The Fee insists it should proceed to pursue justice irrespective of how lengthy it takes.
“This arrest is proof that justice could also be delayed, but it surely won’t be denied,” mentioned one other EFCC officer.
