Two suspected members of a syndicate have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for impersonating and attempting to blackmail the Executive Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede.
The suspects identified as Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim were arraigned on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.
The suspects were arrested for allegedly impersonating Olukoyede in a $1 million extortion and blackmail deal.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head of Media and Publicity in a statement on Wednesday, said they were arrested on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Gimbiya Street, Garki and Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
EFCC said members of the syndicate had contacted a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, claiming his indictment in some phony investigative activities carried out by the EFCC during his tenure as the MD of NPA.
They promised that Olukoyede was ready to give him a soft-landing for $1 million or risk being arrested and prosecuted.
However, on receipt of intelligence regarding the moves of the impersonators, operatives of the Commission were deployed to play along with the alleged fraudsters.
Oyewale said the agency filed a four-count charge against the duo for impersonation and attempted fraud.
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 pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, EFCC’s counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, requested the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the commencement of the trial.
She said, “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 and urging the court to deny the defendant bail and grant an accelerated hearing.
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 not be on a level lower than level 16 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 passport to the court.
The court ordered that the first and second defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met.
It subsequently adjourned the matter till November 18, 2024, for the hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.