Fred Ajudua has been arrested by the EFCC in Abuja over a $1.43 million fraud case after the Supreme Court revoked his bail. Read full shocking details.
…. Controversial Lagos socialite faces the law again after decades of dodging justice over $1.43 million fraud
By All Facts Newspaper – Abuja | May 13, 2025
In a dramatic turn of events, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, arrested embattled Lagos-based socialite and alleged fraud kingpin, Fred Ajudua, over a long-standing $1.43 million advance fee fraud.
The arrest followed a Supreme Court order issued on Friday, May 9, which revoked his bail and directed his remand at a Correctional Service facility. According to a senior EFCC official who spoke to All Facts Newspaper under anonymity, Ajudua was picked up in Abuja, where he had allegedly gone into hiding in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
“Fred Ajudua is currently in EFCC custody and will remain there pending his re-arraignment. His bail was revoked last Friday, and the Commission acted swiftly,” the source disclosed.
The arrest signals a potential breakthrough in Nigeria’s decades-long struggle to prosecute high-profile fraud cases, especially those involving politically connected elites and celebrities.
A Long History of Alleged Scams and Legal Drama
Fred Ajudua’s name has become synonymous with one of Nigeria’s most high-profile fraud sagas, dating back to 1993, when he was accused of duping a German businessman of $1.43 million in a classic 419 advance-fee scam.
Between 1999 and 2000, he allegedly defrauded two Dutch nationals of $1.69 million. But perhaps most shocking was the 2004 allegation that Ajudua conned former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of a staggering $8.4 million while both men were detained at Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.
Despite a 28-count charge filed by the EFCC in 2016, including conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence, Ajudua managed to stall court proceedings through numerous health-related bail applications, failed court appearances, and delays blamed on legal technicalities.
Supreme Court Moves In After Years of Delay
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Lagos Court of Appeal’s previous bail ruling sends a strong signal about the judiciary’s intent to crack down on impunity, especially in white-collar and cyber fraud cases.
The court’s tough stance comes amid growing public frustration over the inability of Nigeria’s legal system to bring influential financial crime suspects to justice.
Legal observers say the apex court was moved by what it described as “flagrant abuse of court processes and serial delay tactics” employed by Ajudua over the years.
Questions Around Enforcement and Compliance
The fact that Ajudua reportedly absconded after his initial arrest in January 2025 raises red flags about the weakness of bail enforcement mechanisms. It also underscores the challenges faced by Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies in pursuing well-connected suspects who often use the legal system as a shield.
What’s Next?
EFCC sources confirm that Ajudua will be re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. There is also a possibility of fresh charges being added to the existing ones due to his recent bail violation.
The Commission insists it will continue to pursue justice no matter how long it takes.
“This arrest is proof that justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied,” said another EFCC officer.
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