The
Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has reserved judgments in two separate
appeals filed by a business man and one time socialite, Mr Fred Ajudua.
Mr
Ajudua is challenging the ruling of Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of a Lagos
High Court in Ikeja which refused his bail application.
Justice
Ipaye had refused bail in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial
Crime Commission, EFCC on allegations of defrauding former Chief of Army
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd.) of about $8.395 million.
While
refusing Ajudua’s bail application, Justice Ipaye had made reference to
Ajudua’s antecedents in separate criminal matters before another Lagos
State High Court where the defendant not only jumped bail but also
allegedly interfered with the court process.
Dissatisfied, Ajudua appealed against the ruling and urged the appellate court to set it aside.
The
appeal court reserved judgement following the adoption of brief of
arguments by Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo and that of the Economic
and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), Mr. Saidu Atteh.
Adopting
his brief of argument, Ajudua’s lawyer formulated four issues for
determination and urged the court to determine whether the lower court
was right when it refused to admit the appellant on bail despite his
heath condition.
Ojo maintained that the facilities at the
Kirikiri Maximum Prison are grossly inadequate and cannot take care of
Ajudua’s health.
Besides, he argued that because of the peculiar
and complicated nature of Ajudua’s ailment, he requires specialist with
hi-tech medical equipment to manage his health effectively.
In
his response, lawyer to the EFCC, Saidu Atteh, submitted that the
medical needs of Mr Ajudua can be taken care of where he is detained and
that should the need arise, the EFCC was prepared to provide medical
services for him within the jurisdiction of the court.
Justice
Rita Pemu also reserved judgement in a separate appeal filed by Ajudua
on the refusal of the lower court to allow him make extra-judicial
statement in response to the allegations levelled against him.
On
the issue of some extra-judicial statement, Ojo argued that it is the
duty of court in all cases particularly in criminal cases and where the
liberty of the accused is at stake to ensure that justice is done.
He urged the court to allow his appeal and set aside the ruling of the lower court.
Credit: Channels
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