By Sahara Reporters,
New York
The application for
bail by 419 kingpin, Fred Ajudua, was hurled overboard today by Justice
Olubunmi Oyewole, who ordered him to remain in Kirikiri Maximum Prison until
his trial is over.
Mr. Oyewole said
Ajudua’s plea was not convincing enough, and ruled that the previous bail
granted to him in 2005 could not be restored because he had taken advantage of
the opportunity and fled. Mr. Ajudua disappeared after the judge granted
him that privilege, re-emerging only after he was detained again this year.
As his case re-opened,
Mr. Ajudua immediately asked the court to suspend proceedings on order for him
to return to India for treatment of what he presented as a kidney problem, but
when that application failed, he filed the bail application that was denied
today.
"I am not
persuaded that the applicant will present himself if the previous bail is
restored or if he gets a fresh one," the judge said.
Describing Mr.
Ajudua’s claim that he required to frequently travel to India on account of his
kidney as unconvincing, the judge pointed out that there had been no report
whatsoever from prison doctors about Ajudua’s ill-health since he was remanded
there.
On the contrary, the
judge commented on how robust Mr. Ajudua appeared in court since he was
remanded.
Justice Oyewole
promised accelerated hearing of the case, directing prison officers to ensure
Mr. Ajudua is promptly taken to the hospital should there be any exigency.
Trial will continue on
July 8.
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