Alleged $8.4m fraud: Ajudua writes Conduct Bureau to reveal Bamaiyi’s assets

Former Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, accused of defrauding former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) of $8.4 million in 2004 at the Kirikiri Prisons, has written the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to reveal Bamaiyi’s declared assets.

Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, made the disclosure before an Ikeja High Court on Thursday during Ajudua’s continued trial for the alleged fraud.

Ojo told the court that after the last proceedings held on October 16, 2019, Ajudua wrote to the bureau for the certified true copies of the asset declaration forms which Bamaiyi claimed to have filled.

“Despite our repeated visits, we were on very clear terms told that nothing will be made available to us unless there is an order of court. We were constrained to asked the court for a subpoena which was signed by this honourable court.

“The sheriff of this court could not serve the Abuja office of the Code of Conduct Bureau and we sincerely believe that proper service will be done in Abuja before the next date this matter will be adjourned until,” Ojo said.

Responding, lead counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Seidu Atteh, said that the trial was not about Bamaiyi’s assets, but about the fraud allegedly perpetuated by Ajudua.

“With profound respect, we are not aware of this application. My lord it is very important for the parties not to lose the focus of the trial. The trial is not about the assets, the information is clear about the allegations against the defendant. I do not see the reason for seeking asset declaration forms of Bamaiyi,” he said.

Earlier, Bamaiyi, while being cross-examined by Ojo, said that he had meticulously recorded in his diary, the receipt of all the $8.4 million funds received by Ajudua.

He said that $1million was given to Ajudua on two occasions at the Kirikiri Prisons with some withdrawn from his bank account at NAL Merchant Bank, now Sterling Bank.

Justice Josephine Oyefeso adjourned the case until March 2 for continuation of trial.

Ajudua is facing a 28-eight count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences and obtaining money by false pretences.

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According to the prosecution, the alleged crime occurred when Ajudua was incarcerated at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons over alleged fraud while Bamaiyi was incarcerated there over his alleged involvement in the attempted murder of the late Alex Ibru, the publisher of the Guardian newspaper.

The prosecution alleged that Ajudua had alongside some accomplices, approached Bamaiyi in the prison in 2004, alleging that the defendant obtained the money by convincing Bamaiyi that he could hire the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to help secure his release from the Kirikiri Prisons.

When the alleged fraud came to light, the law chambers of Afe Babalola issued a disclaimer disassociating itself from the case.