The Supreme Court has struck out a motion filed by Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, challenging its earlier judgment in the ongoing $1.043 million fraud case involving Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf.
The apex court’s decision followed Ajudua’s formal notice to withdraw the motion, clearing the way for trial proceedings to resume on Friday, October 31, 2025, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
At the resumed hearing, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the motion had been withdrawn and struck out by the Supreme Court, paving the way for the trial court to hear the pending bail application.
Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly obtaining $1,043,000 from Abu Zalaf under false pretences. The case, which began in 2005 before Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos State High Court, has witnessed multiple delays reportedly due to various legal maneuvers by the defendant.
The matter has been reassigned several times — first to Justice J.E. Oyefeso and later to Justice M.A. Dada — before whom Ajudua was re-arraigned on June 4, 2018.
During Friday’s proceedings, Ojo continued his cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
When questioned about the existence of a police investigation diary, Emmanuel explained that he inherited the case and was not part of the original investigation.
Justice Dada subsequently directed the prosecution to produce the relevant records at the next sitting and adjourned the matter to November 20 and 21, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.
