Two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, have been arraigned and currently face charges for impersonating the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede in a $700,000 fraud.
The suspects were arraigned on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.
They were also accused of attempting to blackmail the EFCC boss.
News About Nigeria gathered that the suspects allegedly contacted Mohammed Bello-Koko, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, claiming to have access to a phoney investigation involving him.
They demanded $1 million, promising that Olukoyede would ensure a soft landing for them. They also threatened him with arrest and prosecution should he fail to play along with them.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Ojobo Joshua (aka PA to Chairman EFCC) and Aliyu Hashim, on or about September 28, 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of $700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) by false pretence from Mohammed Bello-Koko. You falsely represented to him that there was a pending EFCC petition against him, which you could influence the Executive Chairman to halt. This act is contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006.”
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when the charges were read to them.
Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered that both defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met.
The matter was also adjourned till November 18, 2024, for the hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.
