Two men accused of impersonating officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and demanding $700,000 from Mohammed Bello Koko, former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), have appeared before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja.
The defendants, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, are standing trial before Justice J.O. Onwuegbuzie on an amended four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Akeem Lasisi, an EFCC operative and the second prosecution witness, told the court how the suspects were arrested during an undercover operation.
Led in evidence by Elizabeth Alabi, counsel to the EFCC, Lasisi said he headed Team A of the commission’s cybercrime unit in 2024 when he received intelligence that some individuals were impersonating EFCC officials.
“Under the guise of false identity, the defendants approached the former managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko, claiming that his tenure as the M.D of NPA was being investigated by the EFCC, and claimed further that the EFCC Chairman and the Director of Operations have requested one million dollars to stop the investigation,” he said.
Lasisi told the court that Bello Koko, who was outside the country at the time, confirmed the demand.
“He said that one million dollars was requested from him, which he said he negotiated down to $700,000,” the witness said.
The EFCC witness said the commission deployed an undercover operative to maintain contact with the suspects before arranging a meeting for the handover of the money.
He said the meeting was initially scheduled for AA Rano filling station along Airport Road in Abuja before it was moved to Gimbya Street.
According to Lasisi, Hashim arrived at the location in a black Toyota Prado SUV to receive a bag containing dummy US dollar notes.
“At the point of exchange, my team went ahead to effect the arrest of the second defendant,” he said.
Lasisi added that Hashim later led investigators to Joshua’s residence, where he was also arrested. He said two mobile phones were recovered from Joshua, while the Prado SUV was recovered from Hashim.
The witness said both defendants were taken to the EFCC headquarters, where they made statements under caution in the presence of their lawyers.
Following the testimony, the prosecution sought an adjournment to enable it tender the recovered Prado SUV as an exhibit and play video recordings of the defendants’ extrajudicial statements.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and adjourned the case until July 15 and 16 for continuation of trial.
