$5.9m fraud: Bamaiyi makes surprise court appearance

$5.9m fraud: Bamaiyi makes surprise court appearance

LAGOS—Former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Isaiah Bamaiyi, yesterday made a surprise appearance before an Ikeja High Court to witness court proceedings at the ongoing $5.9m (about N1bn) allegedly collected from him by a Lagos lawyer, Mr Fred Ajudua.

Since the criminal charge was preferred against Ajudua few months back, Bamaiyi who was freed early 2008 by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole appeared before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo with some members of his family.

Meanwhile, the proceedings could not go on due to the absence of Mr Olalekan Ojo, lead counsel to Ajudua.

However, the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, told the court that it had amended the earlier charge filed against the lawyer.

EFCC had accused Ajudua of collecting the amount from the former Chief of Army Staff while they were both in custody at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Ajudua and other still at large made false representation to Bamaiyi claiming that the money was meant to help secure his release from custody as well as payment for professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case in court.

Ajudua had since pleaded not guilty to the charge, but prayed the trial court to also dismiss the charge, while asking for the trial Bamaiyi instead.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Ajudua told the court presided over by Justice Ipaye that he had issues with his lawyer which is yet to be resolved.

Despite the development, EFCC counsel informed the court that the initial charged against Ajudua has been amended.

The charge was however not read in court since Ajudua was not represented by any counsel.

The matter was adjourned till July 4, 2014 for re-arraignment on the amended charge.