On Wednesday, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) agents arrested a four-man syndicate in Abuja for allegedly impersonating EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to extort $1 million in hush money from Mohammed Bello-Koko, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The arrested individuals—Ojobo Joshua, Aliyu Hashim, Thomas Oduh, and Paul Ogiji—were apprehended in Garki and Apo for pretending to be Mr. Olukoyede and demanding $1 million to close a fake fraud investigation against Bello-Koko.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyawale, the fraudsters approached Bello-Koko, claiming that he was under indictment in a fabricated EFCC investigation related to his tenure at NPA. They purportedly offered him a “soft landing” in exchange for the money and threatened to arrest and prosecute him if he did not comply.
Upon learning of the scheme, the EFCC agents were deployed to engage with the fraudsters until their arrest on Wednesday. Oyawale confirmed that the suspects would be charged in court once the investigation is complete, though it remains unclear whether they have contacted legal representation.
The EFCC, established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, is tasked with combating financial crimes in Nigeria.
The commission is currently pursuing cases against former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
