By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Salifu Olije Mustapha before Justice A.I. Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja. According to a statement released on the anti-graft agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the suspect was docked on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and misrepresentation.
The trouble started for Mustapha sometime in March 2026, when he allegedly paraded himself as an officer of the Nigerian Air Force. Not stopping there, he reportedly used the assumed military identity to abet a criminal syndicate, transporting two accomplices who were fully decked out in fake EFCC operational uniforms.
The suspect was caught in the act following actionable intelligence received by real operatives of the commission.
Mustapha was specifically spotted alongside his cohorts harassing motorists and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public at Sheriff Plaza in the Wuse II area of Abuja, using a Toyota Corolla with registration number KTU399GT.
While his partners in crime, identified as Abubakar and Haruna Mamuda, are respectively at large and undergoing investigation by another law enforcement agency, Mustapha had his day in court. Count two of the charge preferred against him noted that his actions violated Section 84(c) and are punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act.
When the four-count charges were read to the defendant in the Abuja court, Mustapha pleaded guilty to all counts. His sudden confession prompted the prosecution counsel, R.U. Adaga, to immediately pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly based on his admission of guilt.
Following the dramatic turn of events, Justice Akobi subsequently adjourned the matter to June 1, 2026, for the formal sentencing of the defendant.
