"Ajudua swore with son’s life not to defraud me" - Bamaiyi

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, on Friday told an Ikeja High Court that Fred Ajudua, alleged serial conman, defrauded him in spite swearing with his son’s life.

Bamaiyi made the disclosure while being cross-examined by Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, at the resumed hearing in allegedly swindling of Bamaiyi of 8.4 million dollars at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons by Ajudua in 2004.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Friday’s session was the fifth in the proceedings in which Bamaiyi was cross-examined by the defence since giving his evidence-in-chief on Nov. 26, 2018.

Responding to Ojo’s question on why he did not ask for receipts from Ajudua as proof of receiving the funds, Bamaiyi said that he trusted Ajudua not to defraud him.

He noted that his trust was further strengthened when Ajudua swore with his son’s life not to defraud him. 

“I trusted him completely; you don’t understand the concept and level of trust I had.

“I’m a father and a grandfather. I understand these things. If as a father he (Ajudua) swears that his only son should die if he should defraud me; that is more than sufficient receipt,” Bamaiyi said.

The former army chief said that the funds given to Ajudua for payment for the legal services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), were brought to him in prison by family members, friends and staff.

On his part, the prosecuting counsel for EFCC Tope Banjo, said that an additional proof of evidence containing the requested bank statement would be filed in court by the prosecution at an adjourned date.

The Judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso, adjourned the case until Sep. 16 and 19, 2019, for continuation of trial.

Recall that Legit.ng had reported that former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, explained to a Federal High Court in Ikeja how a court registrar, Rosulu Idowu Oluronke, aided a serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, in defrauding him of $330,000.