Kola Kehinde/
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two alleged members of a syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, for impersonating and attempting to blackmail EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
The defendants were arraigned today before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.
The EFCC alleges that the suspects contacted Mohammed Bello-Koko, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), falsely claiming to have insider knowledge of an investigation against him by the EFCC. They demanded $1 million, promising Olukoyede’s intervention to ensure a “soft landing” and threatened Bello-Koko with arrest and prosecution if he did not cooperate.
A four-count charge was filed against Joshua and Hashim, including impersonation and attempted fraud.
One of the counts 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 charges.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Elizabeth Alabi requested the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the start of their trial. “Having pleaded not guilty, my Lord, we ask for a date to begin calling our witnesses and request that the defendants be remanded in custody,” Alabi stated.
Counsel for the first defendant, Obinna S. Nwosu, applied for bail on liberal terms, while Peter Oriobe, representing the second defendant, made an oral bail application. Justice Onwuebuzie directed Oriobe to formally submit the bail application in writing.
Alabi opposed the bail requests, referencing a 22-paragraph counter-affidavit and Exhibit EFCC 1, urging the court to deny bail and prioritize an accelerated hearing.
After reviewing the submissions, Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N100 million with two sureties of like sum. The sureties must be at least level 16 officers in the civil service and are required to provide their appointment and promotion letters, valid identification, and a written undertaking to ensure the defendant’s court attendance. The first defendant was also ordered to surrender his international passport.
The court ordered both defendants to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met and adjourned the case till November 18, 2024, for the second defendant’s bail application hearing.
Joshua and Hashim are alleged members of a four-man syndicate impersonating Olukoyede. They were arrested on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Gimbiya Street, Garki, and Apo legislative quarters.
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