The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two members of a syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, for allegedly impersonating and attempting to blackmail the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.
They were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency accused the suspects of contacting the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, claiming to have access to a fabricated EFCC investigation involving him.
The EFCC added that the defendants demanded $1 million, promising that Olukoyede would ensure a “soft landing” for Bello-Koko.
In a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, it was noted that the EFCC filed four charges against the duo for impersonation and attempted fraud.
Count two of the charges read, “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.”
Oyewale noted that the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Elizabeth Alabi requested the court
to remand the defendants to a correctional facility pending the commencement of the trial.
She stated, “Having pleaded not guilty, my Lord, we ask for a date to begin calling our witnesses and request the defendants be remanded in custody.”
Obinna S. Nwosu, counsel for the first defendant, applied for his client’s release on liberal bail terms, while counsel for the second defendant, Peter Oriobe, made an oral request for bail. Justice Onwuebuzie, however, directed Oriobe to formally submit the bail application in writing.
Alabi opposed the bail applications, referencing a 22-paragraph counter-affidavit and Exhibit EFCC 1, urging the court to deny the defendants bail and grant an accelerated hearing.
Oyewale stated that, after reviewing the applications, Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must be at least level 16 officers in the civil service. The sureties are also required to submit their appointment and promotion letters, valid identification, and a written undertaking to bring the defendant to every court sitting. The first defendant must also surrender his international passport to the court,” he added.
He further stated that the court ordered the first and second defendants to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met and adjourned the matter until November 18, 2024, for the hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.
