Witnesses narrate how a suspect who impersonated EFCC to defraud former NPA boss of $700,000 was arrested

The ongoing trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim who allegedly posed as Personal Assistants to the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, continued on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja, with the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Tanko Abubakar, recounting how the defendants were arrested over an alleged $700,000 fraud case.

The EFCC arraigned both defendants on an amended four-count indictment that includes impersonation, conspiracy, and obtaining an amount of $700,000.00 under false pretenses.

Joshua, the first accused who allegedly posed as Olukoyede’s Personal Assistant, had conspired with Hashim, the second accused and obtained the sum of $700,000.00 from the former Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Muhammad Bello Koko.

The two accused were said to have hidden under false identities of EFCC agents and approached Koko, claiming that his tenure as MD of the NPA was under investigation by the EFCC, and further stated that the EFCC Chairman and Director of Operations demanded $1,000,000 to stop the investigation. They ultimately paid the victim a total of $700,000.00.

Abubakar testified as PW2 after the prosecutor, Elizabeth Alabi, informed the court that the originally scheduled PW2, Hakeem Lasisi, had inevitably been absent from official duties abroad. The court granted his request to continue Abubakar’s testimony.

The EFCC agent, attached to the Land and Property Section of Ibadan Zonal Command, Oyo State, said he had worked with the Commission for 16 to 17 years to investigate cases, carry out surveillance and carry out undercover operations.

He said he became involved in the case in 2024 after the Abuja Zonal Director directed him to investigate intelligence accusing the defendants of attempting to defraud Koko.

Abubakar said, “The Abuja Zonal Director informed me that there is intelligence that the first and second defendants attempted to defraud former MD, NPA, Muhammad Bello Koko of $1,000,000.00 and one of the suspects claimed to be the Personal Assistant to the Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.”

He told the court that Koko explained that the second accused admitted to knowing the personal assistant of the EFCC chairman, who allegedly asked for $1,000,000.00 to stop the investigation involving the former NPA boss.

The witness said the former MD then introduced him to the second defendant, allowing him to contact the second defendant in August 2024 to discuss resolving the case.

According to him, the second accused then invited him to a meeting at the Crystal Palace Hotel, Off Gimbiya Road, Area 11, Abuja, where he said they needed to meet the first accused, whom he identified as an aide to the EFCC chairman.

PW2 said they then met at the legislative office in Apo, Abuja, where the first accused arrived in two vehicles and joined them for discussions.

He said the first defendant asked whether the second defendant had told him about the amount of money needed to close the case.

Abubakar told the court, “The first defendant told me and Koko to bring $1,000,000. I pleaded with him that we could not raise that amount.”

The witness said he offered to take $300,000.00 which the first defendant refused, before increasing it to $500,000.00 which was also rejected. He said the second defendant then begged the first defendant to accept $700,000.00 to close the investigation, and all three agreed to that amount.

He told the court, “I pleaded with the first defendant, explaining that we could not raise that amount. I told him we could raise $300,000.00, but he rejected the offer and said I was not serious. I then increased the amount to $500,000.00. The second defendant told me not to worry, saying that he would talk to the first defendant. The second defendant then begged the first defendant to accept $700,000.00 to close the investigation. I told both defendants that I would speak to my brother, Mr. Koko, to provide the amount of $700,000.00.”

PW2 said he reported the development to his Zonal Director, who formed an investigative team consisting of him, Lasisi, Abdulhamid Wodi and Olalekan Ogunjobi to plan the operation.

He said that on August 28, 2024, he informed the two defendants that he had returned from Kaduna with the money and was heading to the EFCC headquarters to deliver it.

However, the first accused directed him to meet him at the AA Rano petrol station along Lugbe Road, Abuja.

Witnesses said the first defendant arrived in a Hilux vehicle and another jeep, with three armed mobile police officers in the Hilux. The second accused also arrived in his vehicle, while EFCC officers, including Lasisi and Wodi, were also present.

He said the team could not make an arrest because the first accused had armed police officers with him, while the EFCC officers were unarmed.

Abubakar said he then contacted his office, which deployed armed personnel for the operation. He then told the second defendant that the money was ready and directed him to meet him at Crystal Palace in Area 11.

According to the witness, after the first defendant did not answer his calls, he sent a short message stating that the money was ready. The first defendant then called him back and directed him to meet the second defendant.

He said he drove to Gimbiya Road, where he showed the accused the two bags containing money, prompting members of his team to go in and arrest him.

The witness said that the second defendant initially denied knowing where the first defendant lived, but finally directed officers there after the first defendant asked for a video call to ensure the money was ready.

PW2 said the wife of the first accused allowed EFCC officers to enter the house to conduct a search, where Joshua was found inside his shop and arrested. The two accused were then taken to the EFCC headquarters.

The court adjourned the case until 22 October 2026 to continue the trial.