Two weeks after a Lagos High Court granted bail to alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has appealed the ruling.
Ganiyu Safari, a vacation judge, had, on September 10, granted Mr. Ajudua, 52, bail stating that “he must be alive to face trial.”
The court set Mr. Ajudua’s bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties.
“The first defendant should not be made to suffer due to his health condition while undergoing trial,” the judge had said.
“If he dies in custody, his trial will come to an end,” he had added.
The judge’s ruling sent wide smiles across the faces of Mr. Ajudua’s supporters, who had been attending the trial in solidarity since it resumed months ago.
In their notice of appeal, on Tuesday, the EFCC insisted that Mr. Ajudua would jump bail.
Mr. Ajudua and Charles Orie are accused by the EFCC of defrauding Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, two Dutch businessmen, of $1.69 million (N270 million).
The suspect disappeared in 2005 after he was granted bail to seek medical care for his kidney ailment.
The EFCC stated that Mr. Ajudua, who is still in the hospital following a kidney malfunction, would interfere with prosecution witnesses if let out of custody.
“The defendant did not present any compelling medical report to warrant the decision of the court in his favour,” A. P Sanusi, the EFCC’s lawyer, said.
Mrs. Sanusi also said that Mr. Ajudua has four applications against the anti graft agency pending before the court.
On Tuesday, Mr. Orie, as well as Mr. Ajudua’s supporters, was present in court.
But Mr. Ajudua was absent – his lawyer told Olubunmi Oyewole, the trial judge, that his client’s life was “still in danger” at the hospital.
The judge gave the prosecution and defence counsels 15 minutes to deliberate on the four pending applications before him.
When the court reconvened, Richard Omohomreh, representing Mr. Ajudua, requested that the court adjourn to enable both parties have further discussions.
Mr. Oyewole adjourned till October 2.
Ganiyu Safari, a vacation judge, had, on September 10, granted Mr. Ajudua, 52, bail stating that “he must be alive to face trial.”
The court set Mr. Ajudua’s bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties.
“The first defendant should not be made to suffer due to his health condition while undergoing trial,” the judge had said.
“If he dies in custody, his trial will come to an end,” he had added.
The judge’s ruling sent wide smiles across the faces of Mr. Ajudua’s supporters, who had been attending the trial in solidarity since it resumed months ago.
In their notice of appeal, on Tuesday, the EFCC insisted that Mr. Ajudua would jump bail.
Mr. Ajudua and Charles Orie are accused by the EFCC of defrauding Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, two Dutch businessmen, of $1.69 million (N270 million).
The suspect disappeared in 2005 after he was granted bail to seek medical care for his kidney ailment.
The EFCC stated that Mr. Ajudua, who is still in the hospital following a kidney malfunction, would interfere with prosecution witnesses if let out of custody.
“The defendant did not present any compelling medical report to warrant the decision of the court in his favour,” A. P Sanusi, the EFCC’s lawyer, said.
Mrs. Sanusi also said that Mr. Ajudua has four applications against the anti graft agency pending before the court.
On Tuesday, Mr. Orie, as well as Mr. Ajudua’s supporters, was present in court.
But Mr. Ajudua was absent – his lawyer told Olubunmi Oyewole, the trial judge, that his client’s life was “still in danger” at the hospital.
The judge gave the prosecution and defence counsels 15 minutes to deliberate on the four pending applications before him.
When the court reconvened, Richard Omohomreh, representing Mr. Ajudua, requested that the court adjourn to enable both parties have further discussions.
Mr. Oyewole adjourned till October 2.
No comments:
Post a Comment