Prove To Court How You Earned $8.4m, Ajudua Tells Gen. Bamaiyi

Prove To Court How You Earned  $8.4m, Ajudua Tells Gen. Bamaiyi

 Alleged fraud kingpin, Fred Ajudua accused of obtaining the sum of $8.4 million from a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi on Thursday enjoined the retired military officer to provide to him proof of the source of the money.

Ajudua, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on an eight count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences and obtaining money by false pretences, made the demand through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN).

The anti-graft agency had alleged that Ajudua while in custody at the Kirikiri Prisons for another fraud related offence, had approached Bamaiyi, who was facing trial for the attempted murder of Chief Alex Ibru, the late publisher of the Guardian Newspaper.

The commission also claimed that the accused person allegedly convinced Bamaiyi that he could help to secure his freedom and secure legal services on his behalf.

“Ajudua received 10.3 million dollars as well as N2 million from Bamaiyi on 23 occasions under the guise that the money was the legal fees for the law firm of Chief Afe Babalola and Co which was false,” the EFCC stated.

According to the anti-graft agency, the money ranging from $3,500 to $1.5million, was given to Ajudua and his accomplices on Bamaiyi’s behalf through ASP Abdullahi Garba, a prison officer, Mr Garba Tagda, Mr Danladi Yaro, Lt-Col. Timothy Chechet and Mrs Martha Bamaiyi.

Ajudua pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It could be recalled that while testifying in his own defence at the last proceedings, Bamaiyi had claimed that most of the money were from friends, colleagues, relations and well -wishers who had pleaded with him not to identify them because some of them held positions in government.

He also stated that the other sources were from his farm products and sales of some of his properties in Lagos.

 But at the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Ajudua’s lawyer, Ojo told the court that he had been re-engaged by Ajudua to represent him and had requested for the Certified True Copy of the last court proceedings held on November 26 to keep him abreast of recent happenings in the case.

 He then said the defence wanted Bamaiyi to provide documents showing proof of the source of the $8.4m in order to adequately cross-examine him.

He said, “After reading the records of proceedings, I discovered that several issues necessitate us requesting the learned counsel to the prosecution to avail of certain documents related to the evidence given by the first prosecution witness (Bamaiyi ).

“These include evidence of alleged sale of items of landed property, the proceeds of which, according to the witness, formed part of the sources of funds he claimed to have handed to the defendant.

“The other pieces of evidence relates to the alleged transactions that took place at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

 “There is a need to write letters to the prison for some clarifications for us to conduct a very thorough investigation,” Ojo stated.

The lawyer then asked the court for an adjournment to enable him file necessary documents to compel the prosecution to provide documents that are not in the proof of evidence.

The EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh, however, opposed the defence’s request for an adjournment.

Atteh submitted that, “My Lord, the evidence before this honorable court is not solely based on the sale of property; that is just one of the numerous sources stated in the evidence-in-chief of the first prosecution witness.

 “We can cross-examine the witness today on other sources of the funds given to the defendant and if proof of the landed property sold is important to the defence, we will make it available to him on the next adjourned date.

 “My lord, refuse the application and in order to save judicial time, I urge My lord to call the witness to the box, ” the prosecutor insisted.

 But in her ruling, the trial judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso ordered the prosecution to provide the necessary documents to the defence

 She then adjourned the case to February 19 for continuation of trial.