Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Apo, Abuja, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, adjourned the trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, till October 21, 2026.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is prosecuting both defendants on amended four-count charge, bordering on impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence the sum of $700,000, (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
Joshua, the first defendant who impersonated the Personal Assistant to EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had conspired with Hashim, the second defendant and obtained the sum of $700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) from a former Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, Muhammed Bello Koko.
Both defendants hid under the false identity of EFCC operatives and approached Koko, claiming that his tenure as the M.D of NPA was being investigated by the EFCC, and further claimed that the EFCC Chairman and the Director of Operations requested one million dollars to stop the investigation. They finally settled with their victim on the sum of $700,000.00.
During Thursday’s proceeding, prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, reminded the court that at the previous sitting, she had sought leave to play the video recordings of the defendants making their extrajudicial statements in the EFCC, regretting however, that the prosecution’s second witness, Akeem Lasisi was unavoidably absent due to his emergency official assignment outside the jurisdiction and prayed the court for an adjournment.
Following the prayer of the prosecution counsel, the judge adjourned the matter till October 21, 22, 26, 28, and 29, 2026, for the continuation of trial.