The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has asked the Supreme Court of Nigeria to cancel the bail granted to Lagos socialite Fred Chijindu Ajudua.
In a notice of appeal filed on February 20, 2026, the anti-graft agency challenged the January 30, 2026 decision of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria which admitted Ajudua to bail.
The EFCC is asking the apex court to set aside the ruling and restore the earlier decision of the trial court which refused him bail in November 2025.
The Commission argued that the Court of Appeal made a legal mistake when it dismissed its preliminary objection and proceeded to grant bail. It said the appellate court failed to properly interpret an earlier Supreme Court judgment delivered on May 9, 2025 in related appeals involving Ajudua.
According to the EFCC, the Supreme Court had already ordered that Ajudua remain in custody to allow for speedy trial of the charges against him. The agency said this meant the issue of bail had been settled and could not be reopened by any lower court.
The anti-graft body further argued that the Court of Appeal acted against the principle that decisions of the Supreme Court are final and binding on all lower courts. It described the bail decision as a violation of constitutional provisions that uphold the authority of the apex court.
The EFCC also challenged the medical grounds relied upon by the appellate court in granting bail. It said Ajudua’s kidney condition, cited in a medical report dated November 19, 2025, was not new and had been mentioned since 1987.
The Commission claimed that the defendant had repeatedly used his health condition to delay trial since the case was first filed in 2005. It also pointed to alleged inconsistencies in medical reports from the same consultant.
The agency warned that allowing Ajudua to remain on bail could delay the trial again. It cited past proceedings where, despite being on bail, only one prosecution witness was called over a long period.
Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly defrauding Palestinian businessman Zad Abu Zalaf of $1.043 million. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the EFCC’s appeal at the Supreme Court.