Supreme Court Slams The Gavel: Ajudua’s Motion Struck Out, Nadabo Energy Boss Loses Appeal

The Supreme Court has struck out a motion filed by alleged serial fraudster Fred Ajudua after his legal team formally withdrew the application challenging a previous judgment delivered by the apex court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In the same sitting on Friday, October 31, 2025, the court also dismissed an appeal lodged by Abubakar Ali Peters, Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited, who had sought to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling that revoked his bail and imposed stricter conditions.

Peters had requested permission to travel overseas for medical treatment, but the Supreme Court rejected the plea, directing him instead to return to the trial court to face the continuation of his criminal proceedings.

Meanwhile, at the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, where Ajudua is standing trial, the defendant also withdrew a fresh bail application before Justice Mojisola Dada on the same day.

Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that his client had officially filed a notice of withdrawal of his motion at the Supreme Court to allow the lower court to proceed with its ruling on the bail request.

Ojo explained that Ajudua, who is reportedly battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, appeared in court personally “to comply with his undertakings.”

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Seidu Atteh, raised no objection to the withdrawal but urged the court to obtain official confirmation from the Supreme Court verifying that the motion had indeed been struck out.

Justice Dada concurred, stating that the trial court must be satisfied that the apex court had formally disposed of the matter before proceeding further. The court subsequently continued with the trial.

During the resumed hearing, Afanda Bashir Emmanuel, the EFCC’s third prosecution witness, testified that the Commission had contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and its forensic laboratory in the course of investigating Ajudua’s alleged $1.043 million fraud against Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf.

Under cross-examination, Emmanuel confirmed that he had visited Ajudua at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and interviewed several witnesses as part of the probe.

Justice Dada adjourned the case until November 20 and 21, 2025, for the continuation of cross-examination.