When Fred Ajudua built his Victoria Garden City (VGC) home some years ago, it was cynosure of all eyes. Many people purposely took trips to visit the house that was styled after Arabian palace; the building was the one of its kind then. It was a display of wealth and affluence and, in fact, it was world-class architectural masterpiece.
But today, Spyglass was informed that the story has changed tremendously, as the house is now a shadow of itself. The once glowing paints are fading away, while weeds have taken over the building, making it lose its beauty totally.
Fred Ajudua had been involved in some notorious cases of Advanced Fee Fraud, otherwise known as 419, which is the number that refers to the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud, the charges and penalties for offenders. He had been brought before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003, alongside one Alex Okorie for defrauding two Dutch businessmen of $1.69 million.
The EFCC had alleged that the defendants deceived the victims by claiming that the money was for sundry payments to various government officials.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants claimed that the payments would help them to facilitate a contract worth $18 million on behalf of the complainants. While the matter lasted, Ajudua, who is said to have been critically ill, was refused bail by the court.
Until his descent into infamy, the Delta State-born businessman was a top socialite and one of the biggest boys in town. He was also popular among some top musicians, who constantly sang his praise for handsome rewards in return
