The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted $100,000 in marked notes, three cellphones and a Toyota Prado SUV as reveals in the trial of two males accused of acquiring $700,000 from a former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The defendants, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly impersonating fee officers to acquire the cash from Muhammad Koko.
The EFCC alleged that Mr Joshua posed as the non-public assistant to its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and labored with Mr Hashim to hold out the scheme.
According to the fee in an announcement on Thursday, the defendants advised Mr Koko that his tenure as NPA managing director was beneath investigation and claimed that the EFCC chairman and the fee’s director of operations demanded $1 million to cease the probe. The quantity was later lowered to $700,000, the company alleged.
The defendants are dealing with amended 4 expenses of conspiracy, impersonation and acquiring cash by false pretence.
At Thursday’s listening to, the second prosecution witness, Tanko Abubakar, an EFCC operative, recognized the objects recovered throughout the investigation.
Mr Abubakar advised the court docket that investigators recorded Mr Hashim throughout a video name with Mr Joshua in which he allegedly confirmed receiving the cash.
“My team and I video-recorded the second defendant when he was making the video call with the first defendant, telling the first defendant that he had collected the money,” he stated.
The witness recognized a brown bag containing $100,000 in marked notes and a white flash drive containing video recordings made throughout the investigation, together with footage of the defendants giving statements on the EFCC headquarters.
He additionally recognized two Samsung telephones, a Galaxy Flip and a Galaxy Note, allegedly recovered from Mr Hashim, and an iPhone 11 Pro Max recovered from Mr Joshua.
Mr Abubakar stated investigators additionally seized a black 2016 Toyota Prado SUV, with registration quantity GWA 666 EA, Abuja, from Mr Hashim. The automobile was stored on the EFCC’s exhibit automobile park.
On Wednesday, Mr Abubakar advised the court docket that the EFCC’s Abuja zonal director assembled an investigative group after receiving intelligence that the defendants have been allegedly planning to defraud Mr Koko.
He stated the defendants initially demanded $1 million to cease the purported investigation. Mr Joshua rejected presents of $300,000 and $500,000 earlier than Mr Hashim persuaded him to simply accept $700,000, the witness advised the court docket.
On 28 August 2024, operatives tried to arrest the suspects at an A.A. Rano filling station alongside Lugbe Road, Abuja, however couldn’t proceed as a result of they have been unarmed.
Mr Abubakar said that Mr Hashim was later arrested at Crystal Palace Hotel after he confirmed him the bag containing the cash. Mr Joshua was arrested at his residence after a video name was made to substantiate that the cash was prepared.
He stated Mr Hashim was arrested at Crystal Palace Hotel in Area 11, Abuja, whereas Mr Joshua was later arrested at his residence.
The prosecution sought to tender the recovered objects as proof. While counsel to Mr Joshua, O. Nwosu, didn’t oppose their admission, counsel to Mr Hashim, M. B. Inuwa, raised objections.
After listening to the legal professionals, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie admitted the objects as reveals PW2A to PW2F. They comprised the Toyota Prado, the three telephones, the marked cash, the brown bag and the flash drive.
The choose adjourned the case till 26 October for continuation of trial.
The defendants have been arraigned earlier than the identical court docket in November 2024. They pleaded not responsible to allegations that they impersonated EFCC officers to acquire cash from Mr Koko.
The trial has since proceeded with prosecution witnesses.
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