The trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, accused of impersonating the Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, continued on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with a prosecution witness recounting how the defendants were arrested over an alleged $700,000 fraud involving former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Muhammad Bello Koko.
The defendants are facing an amended four-count charge bordering on impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.
According to the prosecution, Joshua allegedly posed as Olukoyede’s personal assistant and conspired with Hashim to obtain $700,000 from Koko by falsely claiming that the former NPA managing director was under investigation by the anti-graft agency.
The defendants allegedly told Koko that the EFCC chairman and the Director of Operations had demanded $1m to halt the investigation but later agreed to accept $700,000.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the second prosecution witness, Tanko Abubakar, an EFCC operative attached to the Land and Property Section of the commission’s Ibadan Zonal Command, testified about the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Prosecution counsel Elizabeth Alabi informed the court that the initially scheduled second witness, Hakeem Lasisi, was unavailable because he was on an official assignment outside the country. The court subsequently granted her request to proceed with Abubakar’s testimony.
Abubakar told the court that he had worked with the EFCC for 16 to 17 years, investigating cases, conducting surveillance and participating in undercover operations.
He said he became involved in the matter in 2024 after the Abuja Zonal Director directed him to investigate intelligence indicating that the two defendants were allegedly attempting to defraud Koko.
“The Abuja Zonal Director informed me that there is an intelligence that the first and second defendants were attempting to defraud the former MD, NPA, Muhammad Bello Koko in the sum of $1,000,000.00 and one of the suspects claiming to be a Personal Assistant to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede,” the witness said.
Abubakar testified that Koko subsequently explained how Hashim had claimed to know the purported personal assistant to the EFCC chairman, who allegedly demanded $1m to stop an investigation involving the former NPA boss.
The witness said Koko later introduced him to Hashim, allowing him to contact the second defendant in August 2024 under the pretext of discussing a possible resolution of the matter.
According to Abubakar, Hashim invited him to a meeting at Crystal Palace Hotel on Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, where he said they needed to meet Joshua, whom he identified as the purported aide to the EFCC chairman.
The witness said they later met at the legislative quarters in Apo, Abuja, where Joshua arrived in two vehicles and joined the discussion.
He told the court that Joshua asked whether Hashim had informed him of the amount required to close the investigation.
“The first defendant told me and Koko to bring $1,000,000. I pleaded with him that we cannot raise such an amount,” Abubakar testified.
He said he initially offered $300,000, but Joshua rejected the proposal. He subsequently increased the offer to $500,000, which was also turned down.
Abubakar said Hashim eventually intervened and appealed to Joshua to accept $700,000 to end the investigation.
“I pleaded with the first defendant, explaining that we could not raise such an amount. I told him that we could raise $300,000.00, but he rejected the offer and said I was not serious. I then increased the amount to $500,000.00. The second defendant told me not to worry, saying he would speak with the first defendant. The second defendant subsequently pleaded with the first defendant to accept $700,000.00 to close the investigation. I told both defendants that I would speak with my brother, Mr Koko, to provide the sum of $700,000.00,” he said.
The witness said he reported the development to his Zonal Director, who assembled an investigative team comprising Abubakar, Lasisi, Abdulhamid Wodi and Olalekan Ogunjobi to plan an operation to apprehend the suspects.
He told the court that on August 28, 2024, he informed both defendants that he had returned from Kaduna with the money and was heading to the EFCC headquarters to deliver it.
However, Joshua allegedly directed him to meet him at an A.A. Rano filling station along Lugbe Road, Abuja.
Abubakar said Joshua arrived in a Hilux vehicle accompanied by another jeep, with three armed mobile police officers inside the Hilux. Hashim also arrived in his vehicle, while EFCC operatives, including Lasisi and Wodi, were present.
The witness said the team could not proceed with the arrests because Joshua had armed police officers with him, while the EFCC operatives at the scene were unarmed.
He testified that he contacted his office, which subsequently mobilised armed personnel for the operation.
Abubakar said he later informed Hashim that the money was ready and was directed to meet him at Crystal Palace Hotel in Area 11.
According to the witness, Joshua initially failed to answer his calls. Abubakar then sent him a text message confirming that the money was available. Joshua later called back and directed him to meet Hashim.
The witness said he drove to Gimbiya Street and showed Hashim the bag containing the money, prompting members of the investigative team to move in and arrest him.
He added that Hashim initially denied knowing Joshua’s residence but eventually led the operatives there after Joshua requested a video call to confirm that the money was ready.
Abubakar further testified that Joshua’s wife allowed the EFCC operatives into the residence to conduct a search. Joshua was subsequently found inside his store and arrested.
Both defendants were then taken to the EFCC headquarters for further investigation.
The court adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of the trial.Ef
