The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, began the prosecution of a former Kogi Central Senatorial candidate, Abdulazeez Bello, over alleged impersonation.
Bello is being prosecuted before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court for allegedly impersonating the Director of Operations of the EFCC, Mr Olaolu Adegbite.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Bello impersonated Adegbite with the intention of defrauding Mrs Mercy Orji, wife of Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 50-year-old defendant is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence and forgery.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the EFCC called its first witness, Mr Chucks Offor, to testify against the defendant.
Offor, Special Assistant to the wife of the Governor on Protocol, was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr Toyin Owodunni.
The witness told the court how Bello conspired with another aide of her boss, Nelson Ndukwe (now at large), to commit the offence.
He said Ndukwe called him on Jan.27, 2013 with an unregistered number, claiming that he was being detained by the EFCC for an unknown offence.
Offor said his colleague told him that a certain number was going to call him and that he should cooperate with the caller, so that the matter could be resolved.
According to him, the defendant later called him, posing as Adegbite and demanded that he should come to Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja for settlement.
The witness said he went to the hotel with an officer of the State Security Service who apprehended Bello, while negotiations were going on for Ndukwe’s release.
The matter was adjourned till May 26, for continuation of trial.
