The trial of Lagos businessman Fred Ajudua over an alleged $1.043 million fraud has been adjourned indefinitely by a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.
Justice Mojisola Dada halted proceedings in the long-running case after considering fresh legal issues raised by the defence concerning a recent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal.
Ajudua is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that he defrauded a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000 under false pretences.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged fraud dates back several years and involved convincing the victim to part with the money through deceptive claims and forged documents.
During the latest court session, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the Court of Appeal had delivered a judgment on January 30, 2026, which granted the defendant bail and also raised questions about the jurisdiction of the current trial court.
The defence argued that based on the appellate court’s decision, the case should be returned to the Chief Judge of Lagos State for reassignment to another judge, effectively restarting the trial.
However, the prosecution opposed the argument. Counsel to the EFCC, S.K. Atteh, told the court that while the appellate court granted bail to Ajudua, it did not explicitly order that the case be transferred to a different judge.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Dada struck out the defence application and ruled that the matter should be adjourned indefinitely (sine die) pending the resolution of the legal issues raised.
The case against Ajudua has become one of Nigeria’s most prolonged fraud trials, stretching back to 2005 when it was first filed in court. Over the years, the proceedings have been delayed by multiple appeals, legal objections and the reassignment of judges.
Ajudua was eventually re-arraigned before Justice Dada in June 2018, but the case has continued to face interruptions due to ongoing legal disputes between the defence and prosecution.
With the latest adjournment, it remains unclear when the trial will resume, as further proceedings will depend on the outcome of pending legal processes surrounding the appellate court’s ruling.
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