Third prosecution witness Afanda Bashir Emmanuel on Friday testified within the ongoing trial of alleged serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, on the Lagos State Particular Offences Court docket, Ikeja.
The trial was earlier than a choose, Mojisola Dada.
Mr Emmanuel, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), instructed the court docket that he joined the Fee in 2009 and have become concerned within the case after it was transferred from the Nigeria Police Drive’s Particular Fraud Unit to the EFCC’s Advance Price Fraud Part.
He mentioned the EFCC contacted a number of establishments — together with the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted (NNPCL) and the Fee’s forensic laboratory — in the midst of its investigation into the alleged $1,043,000 fraud in opposition to a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf.
The witness confirmed interviewing the complainant, Mr Zalaf, and one other particular person, Michel Opkema, in addition to visiting Mr Ajudua on the Kirikiri Most Safety Jail, the place related paperwork had been obtained.
Beneath cross-examination, the EFCC operative admitted that the company didn’t take new statements from the defendant after the case was transferred from the police.
The proceedings had been briefly halted after the defendant requested a bathroom break. Upon his return, Mr Ajudua, who appeared in white native apparel and held a strolling stick, complained to his lawyer that he was bleeding.
His lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, who’s a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), consequently sought an adjournment to allow his consumer to take care of his well being.
Earlier within the session, Mr Ojo knowledgeable the court docket that his consumer had filed a recent bail utility after withdrawing a associated movement pending earlier than the Supreme Court docket.
He mentioned the step was taken to permit the trial court docket to ship its ruling on the brand new utility.
“We determined to withdraw the movement we filed on the Supreme Court docket to permit this Honourable Court docket ship its ruling on the bail utility,” Mr Ojo instructed the court docket, whereas submitting an affidavit and a duplicate of the withdrawal discover.
However EFCC’s lawyer, Seidu Atteh, opposed the transfer, arguing that the withdrawal discover was nonetheless earlier than the Supreme Court docket.
“The defendant should produce an order of the Supreme Court docket both dismissing or putting out the discover of withdrawal. We urge this court docket to await the choice of the Supreme Court docket,” he mentioned.
Ruling
In her ruling, Mrs Dada agreed with the prosecution, holding that the trial court docket should verify the standing of the withdrawal earlier than taking additional steps.
“This court docket, being a court docket of report, should be happy that the discover of withdrawal has been correctly filed and thought of by the Supreme Court docket,” the choose dominated.
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The case was adjourned till 31 October for continuation of cross-examination.
Mr Ajudua has been standing trial for allegedly defrauding Mr Zalaf of $1.043 million beneath false pretence.
In Could, the Supreme Court docket revoked his earlier bail and ordered his remand in jail.
The EFCC has since opposed his recent bail efforts, insisting the trial court docket should await the result of associated Supreme Court docket filings.
