Court remands two men in Kuje prison for ‘impersonating Olukoyede’

A federal capital territory (FCT) court sitting in the Apo area of Abuja has remanded two men in Kuje correctional facility for allegedly impersonating Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC arraigned the suspects — Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashi — on Wednesday before Jude Onwuebuzie, the presiding judge.

The defendants were arrested in August alongside two others—Thomas Oduh and Paul Ogiji—at Gimbiya Street, Garki, and Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

They were alleged to have contacted Mohammed Bello-Koko, a former managing director of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), claiming that he was indicted by the EFCC during a probe of his tenure.

The suspects allegedly demanded $1 million from Bello-Kokp, promising that Olukoyede would ensure a “soft landing” for him.

They also threatened him with arrest and prosecution if he failed to play along with them.

The EFCC filed a four-count charge against Joshua and Hashim for impersonation and attempted fraud.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

Elizabeth Alabi, EFCC counsel, prayed the court to remand the defendants to the correctional facility pending the commencement of the trial.

“Having pleaded not guilty, my lord, we ask for a date to begin calling our witnesses and request the defendants be remanded in custody,” she said.

Obinna Nwosu, counsel to the first defendant (Joshua), applied for his client’s release on liberal bail terms, while counsel for the second defendant, Peter Oriobe, made an oral request for bail.

The judge, however, directed Oriobe to file a written bail application for his client.

Onwuebuzie granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge said the sureties must not be less than level 16 officers in the civil service, adding that they must submit their appointment and promotion letters, valid identification, and a written undertaking to bring the defendant to every court sitting.

The first defendant must also submit his international passport to the court.

The judge ordered that the first and second defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until bail conditions are met.

The matter was adjourned till November 18 for the hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.