Two suspects have been arrested for allegedly impersonating officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a bid to extort $1 million from Mohammed Bello-Koko, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

In this regard, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim were arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Bitcoin Hits Record High Of $91,705

The duo are facing a four-count charge, including impersonation and attempted fraud under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

According to the EFCC, Joshua and Hashim contacted Bello-Koko, falsely claiming they had influence over an ongoing investigation against him and demanded $1 million to ensure a favorable outcome.

They allegedly threatened to have him arrested and prosecuted if he refused to comply.

Court documents revealed that on September 28, 2024, the duo tried to extort $700,000 from Bello-Koko, claiming it would help block a fabricated EFCC petition against him.

The two suspects, believed to be part of a four-man syndicate posing as EFCC officials, were arrested on August 28, 2024, in Garki and the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja.

In court, both Joshua and Hashim pleaded not guilty to the charges.

EFCC prosecutor Elizabeth Alabi requested their remand in custody, while the defense sought bail.

Justice Onwuebuzie granted bail to Joshua under stringent conditions, including a N100 million bond and two sureties at level-16 civil service rank.

Both suspects were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until they meet the bail conditions.

A bail hearing for Hashim is scheduled for November 18, 2024.

The Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in Libya has deported a group of 13 migrants, which includes seven Nigerians, three Ghanaians, and three Bangladeshis, for allegedly violating Libyan law.

The deportees, who were previously held at the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre, were flown out via Benina International Airport in Benghazi.

READ MORE: FG Suspends 13 Enugu Students Over Viral Bullying Incident

In a statement released on their official X handle, Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed the deportation, noting that the individuals were returned to their home countries due to infractions against Libyan regulations.

The statement read, “DCIM deported 13 migrants (3 Bangladeshis, 3 Ghanaians, and 7 Nigerians) from the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre via Benina International Airport in Benghazi. All individuals were deported for violating laws in force in the Libyan state.”

This action marks part of ongoing measures by Libyan authorities to enforce immigration laws within the country.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has called for urgent reforms within Nigeria’s correctional and judicial systems in response to a high-profile scandal involving popular cross-dresser and social media influencer Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky.

The scandal, which has captured national attention, revolves around allegations of preferential treatment and corruption during Okuneye’s recent prison sentence.

READ ALSO: Police Refute Reports Of Bomb Explosion In Jos

Tunji-Ojo made these comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The saga began after Okuneye was sentenced to six months in prison in April 2024, following charges of naira abuse and allegations of money laundering.

After his release in August, viral audio surfaced, featuring allegations from a blogger, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who claimed that Bobrisky had paid officials millions of naira for special privileges during his imprisonment.

Among the allegations, Otse claimed that Bobrisky paid ₦15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avoid further charges, and additional payments to secure favorable conditions while incarcerated.

Bobrisky has denied all allegations, but the claims have prompted an official investigation.

He acknowledged the broader concerns highlighted by the case.

“When you have an institutional problem, you don’t just provide a knee-jerk approach to solving it,” he said, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of corruption within Nigeria’s institutions.

Following public outcry, the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) initiated internal probes, while the Federal Government responded by suspending several senior officers at the NCoS.

Additionally, the House of Representatives invited involved parties for a formal inquiry into the matter.

On September 30, 2024, Tunji-Ojo established a dedicated committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct within the NCoS and, more broadly, to assess integrity lapses across the correctional system.

Preliminary findings from the committee indicated that there was “no evidence thus far” that Okuneye had received any unauthorized privileges or had spent time outside the prison during his sentence, which lasted from April 12 to August 5, 2024. Nonetheless, Minister Tunji-Ojo underscored the importance of long-term solutions.

“We set up that committee to look into all the issues, beyond Bobrisky, beyond people absconding – it is a whole institutional issue,” he explained. “We cannot transfer today’s problem to the future.”