The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented details of how its operatives arrested two men accused of impersonating the personal assistant to its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in an alleged $700,000 fraud involving former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Muhammad Bello Koko.
The account emerged on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during the ongoing trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.
The second prosecution witness, Tanko Abubakar, an EFCC operative, told the court that the defendants allegedly posed as commission officials and demanded money from Koko, claiming it was needed to halt an investigation into his tenure as NPA managing director.
According to the EFCC, the defendants are facing an amended four-count charge bordering on impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining $700,000 by false pretence.
The prosecution alleged that Joshua impersonated Olukoyede’s personal assistant and conspired with Hashim to obtain the money from the former NPA managing director.
The defendants allegedly told Koko that the EFCC chairman and the commission’s Director of Operations required $1 million to stop the purported investigation, before eventually agreeing to accept $700,000.
Abubakar, who is attached to the Land and Property Section of the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Command, Oyo State, said he had worked with the commission for 16 to 17 years, investigating cases, conducting surveillance and undertaking undercover operations.
He told the court that he became involved in the case in 2024 after the Abuja Zonal Director directed him to investigate intelligence reports alleging that the defendants were 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.
He explained that Koko subsequently informed him that Hashim had claimed to know the purported personal assistant to the EFCC chairman, who allegedly demanded $1 million to stop an investigation involving the former NPA boss.
The witness said Koko introduced him to Hashim, enabling him to establish contact with the second defendant in August 2024 to discuss the alleged scheme.
According to Abubakar, Hashim later invited him to a meeting at Crystal Palace Hotel, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, where he said they needed to meet Joshua, whom he identified as the purported aide to the EFCC chairman.
He said another meeting was subsequently held at the legislative quarters in Apo, Abuja, where Joshua arrived in two vehicles and joined the discussions.
During the meeting, Joshua allegedly asked whether Hashim had informed Abubakar about the amount required to close the purported investigation.
The witness said Joshua demanded $1 million from him and Koko, but he pleaded that they could not raise such an amount.
Abubakar told the court that he initially offered $300,000, which Joshua allegedly rejected, before increasing the offer to $500,000, which was also turned down.
He said Hashim subsequently intervened and pleaded with Joshua to accept $700,000 to end the purported investigation, an amount to which the parties eventually agreed.
“I told both defendants that I would speak with my brother, Mr Koko, to provide the sum of $700,000,” he said.
Following the agreement, Abubakar said he reported the development to his zonal director, who constituted an investigative team comprising himself, Hakeem Lasisi, Abdulhamid Wodi and Olalekan Ogunjobi to plan the operation.
The witness told the court that on August 28, 2024, he informed the 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 at the location in a Hilux vehicle and another jeep, adding that three armed mobile police officers were inside the Hilux.
Hashim also arrived in his vehicle, while EFCC operatives, including Lasisi and Wodi, were present.
The witness explained that the team could not effect an arrest at the time because Joshua was accompanied by armed police officers, while the EFCC operatives on the scene were unarmed.
He said he subsequently contacted his office, which mobilised armed personnel for the operation.
Abubakar added that he later informed Hashim that the money was ready and was directed to meet him at Crystal Palace Hotel in Area 11, Abuja.
According to the witness, Joshua initially failed to answer his calls, prompting him to send a text message confirming that the money was ready.
Joshua later returned the call and directed him to meet Hashim.
Abubakar said he drove to Gimbiya Street and showed Hashim the bag containing the money, at which point members of the investigative team moved in and arrested him.
He further testified 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.
The witness said Joshua’s wife allowed the EFCC operatives into the house to conduct a search, during which Joshua was found inside his store and arrested.
Both defendants were subsequently taken to the EFCC headquarters.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until Thursday, October 22, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
