EFCC withdraws charges against Ajudua in $1.69m fraud case

Reprieve came the way of Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua Wednesday after a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja discharged him of an allegation of defrauding two Dutch businessmen of $1.69 million brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Ajudua was charged alongside one Charles Orie for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen of 1.69 million dollars.

The anti-graft had alleged that the defendants defrauded the victims by claiming that the money was for help to facilitate a contract worth $18 million on behalf of the complainants.
The matter suffered various set back as the EFCC failed to produce some foreign witnesses in the matter since 2003 when the case was instituted.
At the resume hearing, the EFCC counsel, Mrs. E.A Sanusi told the court that some of the principal witnesses in the matter had vehemently refused to come to Nigerian to give evidence in the matter.
She said that some of their foreign witnesses stated the recent outbreak of Ebola in the country as an excuse.
She further said that in the circumstance, the EFCC has no other option but to ask for the withdrawal of the charge.
Justice Kudirat Jose therefore ordered that Ajudua be discharged of the charges.
(The Guardian)