The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned a man, Salifu Olije Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, for allegedly posing as an operative of the anti-graft agency and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

Mustapha was brought before Justice A.I. Akobi on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and misrepresentation.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly presented himself as an officer of the Commission and took part in activities aimed at deceiving and extorting members of the public.

One of the charges against him reads: “That you, Salifu Olije Mustapha sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while falsely pretending to be a Nigerian Air Force officer did abet the duo of Abubakar (now at large) and Haruna Mamuda (currently undergoing investigation with another law enforcement agency by conveying them fully dressed in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s operational uniforms as operatives of Commission in a Toyota Corolla with Registration No. KTU399GT to Sheriff Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja to defraud unsuspecting members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 84(c) and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act.”

Another charge states: “That you, Salifu Olije Mustapha sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated a Public Servant by falsely presenting yourself as officer of the Nigerian Air Force and in that assumed character defrauded unsuspecting members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 132 of the Penal Code Act.”

When the charges were read to him, Mustapha pleaded guilty to all four counts.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, R.U. Adaga, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Akobi subsequently adjourned the matter until June 1, 2026, for sentencing.

The EFCC said Mustapha was arrested after security information linked him to the impersonation of EFCC personnel.

Investigations showed that he was allegedly seen wearing a fake EFCC uniform alongside two other suspects while harassing motorists and obtaining money from them under false pretences.