Officers of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Lagos-based socialite and businessman, Fred Ajudua, in Abuja following a Supreme Court order revoking his bail.
The Supreme Court, in a ruling delivered on Friday, May 5, 2025, ordered Ajudua’s remand in a correctional facility and revoked the bail earlier granted him by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on September 10, 2018.
The case against Ajudua dates back to 2005 and has suffered multiple delays due to reassignments from judge to judge.
Initially assigned to Justice Morenike Obadina of the Lagos High Court, the case was later moved to Justices Josephine Oyefeso and then Mojisola Dada.
Ajudua, who is facing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000, was picked up by EFCC operatives on Tuesday and remains in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
A senior EFCC official, who requested not to be named due to lack of authorisation to speak to the media, confirmed the re-arrest to Punch on Tuesday.
“We have arrested Ajudua pending his re-arraignment in court. He was arrested in Abuja on Tuesday and he’s in our custody as we speak,” the source said.
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, declined to comment on the re-arrest.
Ajudua, at his arraignment in June 2018 before Justice Dada, was denied bail due to the protracted history of the case.
The Appeal Court later overturned that decision, granting him bail — a decision the EFCC challenged at the Supreme Court.
But, in its judgment, the Supreme court upheld the EFCC’s appeal, ordering that the original ruling denying bail be reinstated. It also directed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to reassign the case back to Justice Dada to proceed with the trial.
Ajudua is expected to be re-arraigned soon as the case resumes.