Fake EFCC officials nabbed while attempting to blackmail former NPA boss

Two suspected syndicate members, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with posing as the EFCC's Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in an effort to extract $1 million from Mohammed Bello-Koko, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). 

On Wednesday, the accused were brought before Federal Capital Territory High Court Judge Jude Onwuebuzie in Apo, Abuja. 

The EFCC claims that Hashim and Joshua contacted Bello-Koko and made a false claim that they could influence an investigation that they said was being conducted against him. 

They threatened to arrest and prosecute him if he did not comply, and they demanded $1 million to insure a "soft landing."

The defendants are charged with four counts under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006, which includes attempted fraud and impersonation. 

In court, it was disclosed that on September 28, 2024, the pair sought $700,000 from Bello-Koko, claiming they could stop an EFCC petition that never existed. 

To the accusations, both defendants entered not guilty pleas. EFCC attorney Elizabeth Alabi urged their remand till trial, while the defense sought bail. 

Joshua, the first defendant, was granted bail by Justice Onwuebuzie under strict terms, which included two level-16 civil service sureties and a N100 million bond. Both offenders were placed under detention at Kuje Correctional Centre until the terms of their bail were fulfilled. The bail hearing for the second defendant was set for November 18, 2024, by the judge.

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