The Supreme Court on Thursday, October 30, 2025, dismissed a motion filed by socialite Fred Ajudua challenging its earlier ruling in the ongoing $1.043 million fraud case involving Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf.
Ajudua had previously filed a notice to withdraw the motion. Following the Supreme Court’s dismissal, trial proceedings resumed on Friday, October 31, 2025, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
At the resumed hearing, Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, informed the court that the defence’s application had been formally withdrawn and struck out by the Supreme Court, allowing the trial court to proceed with the pending bail application.
Ajudua is facing charges of 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 been delayed multiple times due to legal tactics employed 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 session, Ojo continued the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an EFCC investigator. Emmanuel stated that he inherited the case and was not part of the initial investigation. In response, Justice Dada directed the prosecution to produce the case records at the next hearing.
The court adjourned the case to November 20 and 21, 2025, for the continuation of the cross-examination.
