The Supreme Court has struck out a motion filed by Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua, challenging its earlier judgment in the long-standing $1.043 million fraud case involving Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf.
The decision, delivered on Thursday, October 30, 2025, followed Ajudua’s formal withdrawal of the motion, paving the way for the continuation of his trial at the lower court.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, October 31, 2025, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the motion had been withdrawn and struck out by the Supreme Court.
This development cleared the path for the lower court to proceed with pending matters, including the defendant’s bail application.
Ajudua is accused of obtaining $1,043,000 from Abu Zalaf under false pretences — a case that began in 2005 before Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos State High Court. The matter has suffered several delays over the years, allegedly due to multiple legal maneuvers by the defence.
The case was later reassigned to Justice J.E. Oyefeso and subsequently to Justice Dada, before whom Ajudua was re-arraigned on June 4, 2018.
During Friday’s proceedings, Ojo continued the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, an EFCC investigator. When asked about the existence of a police investigation diary, Emmanuel explained that he inherited the case and was not involved in the initial investigation.
Justice Dada then directed the prosecution to produce the investigation records at the next sitting.
The case has been adjourned to November 20 and 21, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.
