Posted by By ADESINA AIYEKOTI on
Detained Lagos-based lawyer and businessman, Chief Fred Ajudua Wednesday at the Lagos High Court got a reprieve in his protracted legal battles against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was granted bail on medical ground.
Detained Lagos-based lawyer and businessman, Chief Fred Ajudua Wednesday at the Lagos High Court got a reprieve in his protracted legal battles against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was granted bail on medical ground.
The trial judge, Justice S. Nwaka, tempering justice with mercy, held that she was satisfied with all the medical reports tendered by the detainee's counsel and the averments of his sister Mrs Regina Osuala that Ajudua, who has been suffering from kidney problems needed urgent medical surgery.
The judge who made an unscheduled visit to LUTH recently admitted that the poor environment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where Ajudua was transferred to by the prisons authorities following his persistent illness, was not conducive for the surgery.
Saying she preferred to try in her court, a medically fit person than a corpse, the judge said the accused currently standing trial on alleged criminal case, should be allowed to go for his surgery on certain bail conditions.
Allowing Ajudua who had been in custody in the last two years, to attend to his kidney problems, Justice Nwaka pronounced: 'The accused is granted bail in the sum of N10 million with the sureties in the like sum".
One of the sureties, she declared must be his wife (Princess Ajudua) and his sister, Gina who deposed to various affidavit in respect of the bail application.
Besides, Justice Nwaka ruled that Ajudua must deposit his international travelling passport, while his sureties must also deposit title deeds of their landed properties.
Three hospitals namely Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and St. Nicholas Hospital have confirmed the accused kidney problems.
Prior to the bail given Wednesday, Justice Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court had on similar matter granted Ajudua bail on medical ground.
Meanwhile, Justice Nwaka has fixed September 20 and 21 for the trial of the case.