$8.3m fraud: Separate trial for Ajudua’s co-accused

A Lagos high court sitting in Ikeja has ordered a separate trial for a court registrar, Idowu Rosulu, who is standing trial alongside Fred Ajudua for allegedly defrauding Ishaya Bamaiyi, erstwhile chief of army staff, of about $8.39 million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Rosulu along with Ajudua (pictured) for defrauding Bamaiyi between November 2004 and June 2005 while he was in prison.

Other suspects involved in the scam are on the run. They are Alumile Adedeji (a.k.a Ade Bendel), s Hamabon William and one Kenneth.

EFCC alleged that Ajudua and his accomplices had falsely claimed that the payments represented the professional fees charged by Afe Babaola (SAN) to handle Bamaiyi’s case in court and facilitate his release from prison.

The commission also alleged that Ajudua claimed that $1 million out of the money collected from Bamaiyi would be used to assist Olubunmi Oyewole, a justice, who was initially handling the matter, to offset the payment of the hospital bill of his father who, Ajudua falsely claimed, was on admission at the Saint Nicholas Hospital in Lagos.

Ajudua had earlier lost his bid to stop the trial after the Lagos division of the court of appeal dismissed his application challenging the competence of the charge and the jurisdiction of the Lagos high court to hear the matter.

Ajudua through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo subsequently filed several motions urging the court to quash the charges on the ground that some of the counts were defective.

While Ajudua’s motions are still pending before the trial judge, Oluwatoyin Ipaye, also a justice and Rosulu’s lawyer, Bamidele Ogundele  prayed the court for separate trial on the ground that the plethora of motions filed by Ajudua were likely to delay her own trial.

Although the motion was opposed by Ajudua’s counsels and the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Saidu Atteh, the court upheld the prayers of Rosulu, insisting that constitution guarantees her speedy and fair trial.

Ipaye subsequently ordered EFCC to consider filing a further amended charge to reflect the ruling of the court.

She adjourned the matter till November 27 for continuation of trial.

Ajudua was discharged of a similar fraud charge last week by Justice Kudirat Jose after EFCC failed to produce some foreign key witnesses in another $1.69m fraud allegation.