The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, over an alleged scheme to defraud former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko.
The arraignment took place on Wednesday November 13 before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja.
The defendants are accused of impersonating EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, claiming they could influence a fabricated investigation purportedly involving Bello-Koko.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Joshua and Hashim allegedly contacted Bello-Koko, stating they had insider access to the supposed EFCC investigation and demanded $1 million in exchange for a “soft landing.”
Oyewale noted that the defendants, described as members of a four-man syndicate, also threatened Bello-Koko with arrest and prosecution if he failed to comply with their demands.
The EFCC reported that Joshua and Hashim were apprehended on August 28 at Gimbiya Street in Garki and at Apo legislative quarters in Abuja.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, after which their lawyers—Obinna S. Nwosu for Joshua and Peter Oriobe for Hashim—requested bail. While Nwosu submitted a formal bail application, Oriobe sought bail orally.
EFCC’s prosecutor Elizabeth Alabi opposed their bail requests; however, Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to Joshua, the first defendant, setting the bond at N100 million with two sureties of equal sum. Additionally, Joshua must surrender his international passport to the court as part of his bail conditions.
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