By SUNTV Global News Desk | February 12, 2026
In a dramatic twist to one of Nigeria’s longest-running fraud cases, the Court of Appeal has set aside a previous Supreme Court position in the $1.43 million advance-fee fraud trial involving Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, and ordered that the case be moved to Yola, Adamawa State.
Sources familiar with the proceedings told SUNTV Global Channel that the appellate court directed that all matters related to the case should now be heard at its Yola Division instead of Lagos, where the trial had been ongoing for years.
The court also ruled that the original trial judge should continue to preside over the case until its conclusion, in a move aimed at ensuring continuity and speeding up the long-delayed proceedings.
Following the ruling, Ajudua was reportedly transferred quietly to Yola rather than being returned to Lagos as many had expected.
A Case Spanning Decades
Fred Ajudua has been facing prosecution over allegations that date back to the early 1990s. The case originated from a petition written in August 1993 by the Embassy of the State of Palestine to Nigerian authorities.
The petition accused Ajudua of obtaining approximately $1.43 million under false pretences from a German-based Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf.
After investigations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 12-count charge against Ajudua at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Prosecutors alleged that he conspired with an associate, Joseph Ochunor — who is still at large — to defraud the foreign businessman.
The EFCC also accused the duo of forging documents purportedly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to give legitimacy to the alleged scam.
Legal Battles Over Bail
The case has witnessed numerous legal battles, particularly over Ajudua’s bail status.
In 2018, the Lagos High Court refused his bail application despite claims of serious health challenges. However, the Court of Appeal later granted him bail, ruling that it was his constitutional right.
The EFCC challenged that decision at the Supreme Court, which in March 2025 overturned the appellate court ruling. The apex court held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to grant bail after declaring Ajudua’s legal brief incompetent.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered that Ajudua be returned to prison custody and directed that the trial resume promptly before the same judge.
Fresh Chapter in Long Legal Saga
The latest Court of Appeal decision marks yet another major development in a legal battle that has dragged on for more than three decades, raising persistent concerns about delays, jurisdictional disputes, and the pace of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
With the relocation of the trial to Yola, attention is now focused on whether the case will finally move toward a conclusive resolution after years of prolonged litigation.
