Fred Ajudua, a former Lagos-based socialite, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja after the Supreme Court revoked his bail. Ajudua, who is facing charges for allegedly defrauding Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf of over $1 million, was apprehended on Tuesday and has been remanded in EFCC custody, awaiting re-arraignment.
A senior EFCC official confirmed the arrest but requested anonymity, stating, “We have arrested Ajudua pending his re-arraignment in court. He was arrested in Abuja on Tuesday and is currently in our custody.”
The arrest follows a Supreme Court ruling on May 5, 2025, which overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision from September 2018 to grant Ajudua bail. The apex court ruled that he should remain in custody at a correctional facility and directed that the case be returned to its original trial judge for continuation.
This long-running fraud case dates back to 2005 and has faced significant delays due to multiple judicial reassignment. Initially heard by Justice Morenike Obadina at the Lagos High Court, it was later transferred to Justices Josephine Oyefeso and Mojisola Dada. Ajudua was first arraigned before Justice Dada in June 2018 and was denied bail due to the case’s prolonged history.
Although the Court of Appeal granted him bail, the EFCC challenged the decision, leading to the Supreme Court’s intervention. In its ruling, the court upheld the EFCC’s appeal, reinstating the original order denying bail, and instructed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to return the case to Justice Dada.