The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on February 12, 2014 arraign Fred Ajudua before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of about $8.395million.
The arraignment earlier scheduled to come up before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye Monday failed as Ajudua was absent from court.
The EFCC alleged that Ajudua along with others at large, committed the crime between November 2004 and June 2005 respectively.
According to the anti-graft agency, the fresh charges dated October 14, 2013 comprise 13 counts of conspiracy and fraud.
According to the anti-graft agency, the fresh charges dated October 14, 2013 comprise 13 counts of conspiracy and fraud.
Other suspects said to be at large are Alumile Adedeji (a.k.a Ade Bendel) and one Mr. Kenneth and Princess Hamabon William.
EFCC alleged that the suspects defrauded Bamaiyi at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, while he was on remand with them for various crimes.
The commission said the suspects had fraudulently collected the money from Bamaiyi, falsely claiming that it was part of the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), to facilitate his release from prison.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that Ajudua and others fraudulently claimed that $1million out of the total money collected from Bamaiyi was for financial assistance for the treatment of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole's father.
The suspects were said to have told Bamaiyi that Oyewole's father was admitted at Saint Nicholas in Lagos and the $1million was meant to assist the judge in treating his father.
The offences of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences were said to be contrary to Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act. No. 13 of 1995 as ammended by Act No. 62 of 1999.
The defendant's lawyer, Richard Ahoharuogha, told the court that his client only became aware of the matter on Saturday, adding that his client was unable to attend court because he was ill.
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