Tanko Abubakar, an investigating officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo Division, that an alleged fraudster, Ojoba Joshua, introduced himself as the personal assistant to Ola Olukoyede (the anti-graft agency’s chairman).
The introduction was made in the presence of the second defendant, Aliyu Haskim.
Mr Abubakar, the second prosecution witness, disclosed this on Thursday during the trial of the accused, who face an amended four-count charge bordering on impersonation, conspiracy, and obtaining $700,000 by false pretence to defraud the Nigerian Ports Authority’s former managing director, Mohammed Koko.
“Both defendants hid under the false identity of EFCC operatives and approached Koko, claiming that his tenure as the MD of NPA was being investigated by the EFCC, and further claimed that the EFCC chairman and the director of operations requested $1 million to stop the investigation. They finally agreed to collect $700,000.00 from Koko,” a statement by the anti-graft agency explained.
During cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Obinna Nwosu, Mr Abubakar told the court that he encountered the first defendant during his investigation, where he introduced himself as the PA to the EFCC chairman.
My Lord, there are video clips to show when the second defendant said in his statement that he is the PA to the EFCC chairman. He said this when we were driving in the car,” said the EFCC operative when asked to provide evidence.
He was also asked to show the court the particular place in the video evidence where it was recorded that Mr Joshua disclosed that to him.
The judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie, however, stated that playing the entire video clips would consume the court’s time, and directed the prosecution to go back and identify the parts of the video where the statement was made and provide them at the next adjourned date.
Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, drew the court’s attention to her affidavit seeking leave to virtually call her next witness because he is out of the country.