by Godwin Akanfe

Fred Ajudua, alleged serial fraudster, has been discharged and acquitted of a $1.69 million (N278,005,000) fraud charge filed against him in 2003.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had charged him over the alleged fraud, which a Lagos High court, sitting in Ikeja, acquitted him of, on Wednesday, 15 October.

The EFCC had accused Ajudua of having duped two Dutch businessmen of $1.69m(N278,005,000). It was alleged that the accused and his partner, Charles Orie swindled the foreigners of the said sum, after claiming that they will help them get government contracts worth $18million (N2,961,000,000).

After an apparent lack of foreign witness to testify against Ajudua, the EFCC counsel, Mrs E.A Sanusi appealed for the withdrawal of the case, to which the presiding judge, Justice Kudirat Ajose, acquisced to, ruling that Ajudua be discharged of the charges, and consequently, free to go.

Despite the important victory for the socialite/businessman, Uhuru is still miles away, as another fraud case is before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.

In the other case, Ajudua is accused of defrauding a former Chief of Army staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi of $8.4 million (N1,381,800,000) while they were both serving prison time at the Kirikiri prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.