The Supreme Court has revoked the bail granted to Fred Ajudua, the husband of the Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs, sending him back to prison to face trial over an alleged $1.43 million fraud.
The apex court’s decision, delivered on Friday, May 9, 2025, followed an appeal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which challenged the 2018 ruling of the Court of Appeal in Lagos that granted Ajudua bail.
Ajudua, a prominent figure once known for his flamboyant lifestyle and controversial dealings, is accused of defrauding a Palestinian businessman, Zad Abu Zalaf, of over $1 million under false pretenses.
The case has dragged on for two decades, hindered by a series of legal maneuvers that stalled progress.
The Supreme Court’s ruling not only nullifies the bail granted by the appellate court but also reinstates the original decision of Justice M. A. Dada of the Lagos State High Court, which had earlier denied Ajudua bail.
The court also ordered that Ajudua be immediately remanded in a correctional facility and directed the chief judge of Lagos State to reassign the case back to Justice Dada to continue the trial without restarting the proceedings.
This development comes as a significant blow to Ajudua’s wife, Mrs. Stella Ajudua, who currently serves as the Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs.
Known for her advocacy for women’s rights and social justice, the commissioner has largely kept a low profile regarding her husband’s long-standing legal troubles.
However, with the new turn of events, public and political scrutiny is likely to mount.
While the commissioner has not issued an official statement as of the time of this report, sources close to the Delta State Government House say she is “deeply distressed” by the ruling, which could have implications for her political image and position within the state cabinet.
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Ajudua’s trial originally began in 2005 under Justice M.O. Obadina but was marred by delays until it was reassigned to Justice Oyefeso, and later Justice Dada.
He was arraigned in 2018 after several legal challenges and was eventually granted bail by the Court of Appeal on September 10, 2018, a decision the EFCC contested all the way to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court also dismissed a separate appeal filed by Ajudua’s legal team seeking to challenge the appellate court’s order to transfer the trial from Justice Dada’s court.
The justices ruled that the appeal had become “academic” and irrelevant given today’s overriding decision.
The EFCC has expressed satisfaction with the judgment, stating it reinforces the principle that justice cannot be derailed indefinitely through technicalities.
