In a recent development, two Nigerians and a Ghanaian have been brought before an Accra Circuit Court on allegations of defrauding a United Arab Emirates national of $60,000 in a gold-related case.
The accused individuals have been identified as Jacob Sunday Olatunji, a 39-year-old driver and Engineer, Israel Olawale Omoley, an Architect, and Baffour Abraham, who is currently at large.
They are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime, specifically defrauding, and defrauding by false pretences. Olatunji and Omoley have both pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
During the court proceedings presided over by Mr Isaac Addo, the accused individuals were granted bail in the sum of GHC1 million each, with sureties. Additionally, they were ordered to deposit their passports in the court’s registry until further notice.
The decision to grant bail was made after the defense counsel filed a motion, emphasizing that the accused individuals are married with children and are not a flight risk. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, left the grant of bail to the court’s discretion.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Farhad Omedi, a national of the United Arab Emirates, was introduced to Baffour by a third party currently in Dubai. Subsequently, the complainant and Baffour engaged in conversations regarding a potential business deal involving gold.
The complainant arrived in Ghana in January 2024 and was received by Olatunji at the Kotoka International Airport. It was alleged that Olatunji and Baffour presented 30 kilograms of gold bars to the complainant at a security company in Accra to validate Baffour's credibility as a gold dealer. Subsequently, a portion of the gold was tested for refinery purposes and deemed genuine.
Following the testing, the complainant agreed to purchase one kilogram of gold for $60,000. Arrangements were then made for the transportation of the gold to Dubai. However, upon reaching the airport with the gold, a series of events transpired leading to the complainant being defrauded of $60,000 by Olatunji.
Efforts to trace Olatunji proved futile initially, but eventually led to his arrest along with Omoley at their hideout in Dawhenya. During the arrest, the police recovered incriminating evidence from Omoley's possession, linking him to Baffour.
As the case unfolds, efforts are underway to apprehend Baffour who is currently at large.
The matter has been adjourned to February 20, 2024, as investigations continue into this intricate web of deceit and fraud. The court will undoubtedly seek to unravel the full extent of the alleged fraudulent activities and mete out justice accordingly.
This case serves as a cautionary tale and underscores the importance of due diligence and vigilance in business dealings, particularly those involving high-value transactions such as the trade of precious metals. It also highlights the necessity for robust legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to combat financial crimes and protect unsuspecting individuals from falling victim to such schemes.
-source GNA |curated by Aisha Yakubu | Ghana Crimes
