Alleged $700,000 Fraud: EFCC Witness Narrates How Operatives Arrested Two Impersonators
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tanko Abubakar, has narrated how the commission arrested two men accused of impersonating the EFCC chairman’s personal assistant to defraud a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Muhammad Bello Koko, of $700,000.
Abubakar, the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), gave the account 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 defendants are facing an amended four-count charge bordering on impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, Joshua allegedly impersonated the Personal Assistant to its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, while conspiring with Hashim to obtain $700,000 from Koko under the guise of stopping an investigation into his tenure as NPA managing director.
The defendants allegedly claimed that the EFCC chairman and the Director of Operations required $1 million to terminate the investigation but eventually agreed to accept $700,000.
Testifying before the court, Abubakar, an EFCC operative attached to the Land and Property Section of the Ibadan Zonal Command, said he had worked with the commission for 16 to 17 years, handling investigations, surveillance and undercover operations.
He explained that he became involved in the case in 2024 after the Abuja Zonal Director directed him to investigate intelligence indicating that the defendants were attempting to defraud Koko.
According to the witness, Koko informed him that Hashim had claimed to know the EFCC chairman’s purported personal assistant, who allegedly demanded $1 million to stop the investigation.
Abubakar said Koko subsequently introduced him to Hashim, allowing him to establish contact with the second defendant in August 2024 to discuss the alleged deal.
He told the court that Hashim later invited him to Crystal Palace Hotel on Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, where he was informed that they needed to meet Joshua, who was allegedly posing as the EFCC chairman’s aide.
The witness said they later met at the legislative quarters in Apo, Abuja, where Joshua arrived in two vehicles and joined the discussions.
According to Abubakar, Joshua asked whether Hashim had informed him of the amount required to close the case and subsequently demanded $1 million from him and Koko.
The witness said he offered $300,000, but Joshua rejected the proposal. He later increased the offer to $500,000, which was also rejected.
Abubakar told the court that Hashim subsequently intervened and pleaded with Joshua to accept $700,000, an amount they eventually agreed upon.
Following the agreement, the witness said he reported the development to his Zonal Director, who constituted an investigative team comprising Abubakar, Hakeem Lasisi, Abdulhamid Wodi and Olalekan Ogunjobi to plan the operation.
He said 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.
The witness said Joshua arrived in a Hilux vehicle and another jeep, accompanied by three armed mobile police officers in the Hilux, while Hashim also arrived in his vehicle.
Abubakar said the EFCC operatives could not arrest the suspects at the location because Joshua had armed police officers with him, while the commission’s personnel were unarmed.
He explained that he contacted his office, which subsequently mobilised armed personnel for the operation.
According to him, he later informed Hashim that the money was ready and was directed to meet him at Crystal Palace Hotel in Area 11.
Abubakar said he also contacted Joshua, who eventually instructed him to meet Hashim.
The witness said he drove to Gimbiya Street and showed Hashim the bag containing the money, prompting the waiting EFCC operatives to move in and arrest him.
He added that Hashim initially denied knowing Joshua’s residence but later led the operatives there after Joshua requested a video call to confirm that the money was ready.
Abubakar further testified that Joshua’s wife granted the operatives access to the house to conduct a search, during which the first defendant was found inside his store and arrested.
Both defendants were subsequently taken to the EFCC headquarters.
The trial had earlier proceeded after prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, informed the court that the initially scheduled second witness, Hakeem Lasisi, was unavailable due to an official assignment outside the country. The court granted her request to present Abubakar instead.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
