EFCC Witness Tells Court How Suspects Allegedly Impersonated Chairman’s Aide to Defraud Ex-NPA Boss

EFCC Witness Tells Court How Suspects Allegedly Impersonated Chairman’s Aide to Defraud Ex-NPA Boss

The trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim continued on Wednesday before Justice J.O. Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, as the second prosecution witness narrated how the defendants were allegedly arrested for impersonating officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged $700,000 fraud scheme.

The defendants are facing an amended four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

Testifying before the court, EFCC operative Akeem Lasisi, who appeared as the second prosecution witness (PW2), said he led Team A of the Commission’s Cybercrime Unit in 2024 when he was assigned to investigate intelligence indicating that some individuals were impersonating EFCC officials.

According to him, investigations revealed that the first defendant, Joshua, allegedly posed as the Personal Assistant to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and approached former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, claiming he was under investigation by the Commission.

Lasisi told the court that the suspects allegedly informed Bello Koko that the EFCC Chairman and the Director of Operations demanded $1 million to halt the investigation but later agreed to accept $700,000 after negotiations.

The witness said the former NPA boss, who was outside the country at the time, confirmed the report and informed investigators that he had told the suspects his brother would handle the cash handover. An undercover EFCC operative was then assigned to continue communication with the suspects.

He further told the court that on August 28, 2024, an operation was carried out after the suspects agreed to receive the money. Although the initial meeting point was an AA Rano Filling Station along Airport Road, Abuja, the location was later changed to Gimbiya Street.

According to the witness, the second defendant arrived at the agreed location in a black Toyota Prado SUV with registration number GWA 666 PA. As the undercover operative attempted to hand over a bag containing dummy US dollar notes, EFCC operatives moved in and arrested him.

Lasisi said the second defendant subsequently led investigators to the residence of the first defendant, where he was also arrested. Two mobile phones were recovered from Joshua, while the Prado SUV was recovered from Hashim.

He added that both defendants were taken to the EFCC headquarters, where they made statements under caution in the presence of their lawyers, with the interviews also recorded on video.

Following the witness’s testimony, prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, requested an adjournment to enable the Commission complete arrangements to present the recovered Prado SUV as an exhibit and also play the video recordings of the defendants’ statements in court.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and adjourned the case until July 15 and 16, 2026, for continuation of trial.

EFCC Witness Tells Court How Suspects Allegedly Impersonated Chairman’s Aide to Defraud Ex-NPA Boss