The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, for impersonating and attempting to blackmail the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

They were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in the Apo area of Abuja on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

The suspects allegedly contacted the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, claiming to have access to a phony investigation involving him by the EFCC.

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.

The EFCC, therefore, filed a four-count charge 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 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.”

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The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

Following their pleas, the EFCC’s counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, requested the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the commencement of the trial.

“Having pleaded not guilty, my Lord, we ask for a date to begin calling our witnesses and request the defendants be remanded in custody,” Alabi said.

The counsel for the first defendant, Obinna Nwosu, applied for his client’s release on liberal bail terms, while the counsel for the second defendant, Peter Oriobe, made an oral request for bail.

The presiding judge, Justice Jude 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 urged 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 judge said the sureties must not be less than level 16 officers in the civil service, the judge added.

The sureties were 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 was also ordered to surrender his international passport to the court.

Justice Onwuebuzie ordered that the first and second defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met and adjourned the matter till November 18, 2024, for the hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.

The Star