Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua was re-arraigned at an Ikeja
High Court on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff
retired Lieutenant-General Ishaya Bamaiyi of $10.3 million.
Ajudua pleaded not guilty to a 28-count charge bordering on
conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence. The charges were brought against
him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ajudua, was arraigned after Justice Josephine Oyefeso had in
a ruling dismissed his application dated January 6, challenging the
jurisdiction of the court to try him.
Oyesefo said: “The fact that the defendant’s statement is
not in the proof of evidence is not relevant to the issue of the jurisdiction
of this court.
“The EFCC can prosecute any financial crime in any court in
Nigeria in accordance with Section 211 (1)(b) of the constitution. The
statement that the defendant has no case is premature and I, therefore, order
that the defendant answers to his charges and be arraigned.”
The lead Prosecutor to the EFCC, S.A. Atteh, said that
Ajudua committed the alleged conspiracy and fraud from November 20, 2004 to
December18, 2005 alongside five accomplices.
The accomplices were named as Oluronke Rosulu, Alumile
Adedeji also known as Ade Bendel, one Kenneth, one Jonathan and Hamabon
William.
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