World Class
A one-time Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, on Monday filed an
application before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, seeking a change of
thejudge hearing charges of fraud preferred against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajudua and his associate Charles Orie, are standing trial before Justice Joseph Oyewole for allegedly defrauding two Dutch nationals few years ago.
They were arraigned on May 30, 2003, for allegedly defrauding Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of 1.69 million US dollars (N252.8 million).
During Monday’s proceedings, Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Allens Agbaka, said the defence had petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, to remove Oyewole from presiding over the trial.
Agbaka also sought for an adjournment of the trial, pending the decision of Phillips to transfer the case to another judge.
In the application– which was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit– Agbaka alleged that Oyewole had made a prejudicial remark while ruling on Ajudua’s bail application on June 25.
The defence counsel said the judge’s claim that his client would tamper with the prosecution witnesses was prejudicial to the fair trial of the case.
He said:”The learned presiding judge, in making those remarks, has given cause for reasonable apprehension that the first accused (Ajudua) has been found guilty, even before the conclusion of the trial.”
The EFCC counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), told the court that he needed time to respond to the application.
NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till September 24 for further hearing.
source: The Nation
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajudua and his associate Charles Orie, are standing trial before Justice Joseph Oyewole for allegedly defrauding two Dutch nationals few years ago.
They were arraigned on May 30, 2003, for allegedly defrauding Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of 1.69 million US dollars (N252.8 million).
During Monday’s proceedings, Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Allens Agbaka, said the defence had petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, to remove Oyewole from presiding over the trial.
Agbaka also sought for an adjournment of the trial, pending the decision of Phillips to transfer the case to another judge.
In the application– which was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit– Agbaka alleged that Oyewole had made a prejudicial remark while ruling on Ajudua’s bail application on June 25.
The defence counsel said the judge’s claim that his client would tamper with the prosecution witnesses was prejudicial to the fair trial of the case.
He said:”The learned presiding judge, in making those remarks, has given cause for reasonable apprehension that the first accused (Ajudua) has been found guilty, even before the conclusion of the trial.”
The EFCC counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), told the court that he needed time to respond to the application.
NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till September 24 for further hearing.
source: The Nation
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