Two Nigerians and a Ghanaian have been arraigned in the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a United Arab Emirates national of $60,000, in a ‘gold transaction’ deal.
The Ghanaian, Baffour Abraham is currently at large but the two Nigerians; Jacob Sunday Olatunji, a 39-year-old driver and engineer, Israel Olawale Omoley, an architect appeared before the court on Tuesday, February 20.
All three accused persons have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, defrauding and defrauding by false pretences.
The Ghana News Agency reports that Olatunji and Omoley have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They have therefore been granted bail to the tune of GH¢1 million each with sureties.
The court presided by Mr. Isaac Addo also ordered them to deposit their passports at the court’s registry.
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According to reports from the Ghana News Agency, the complainant, Farhad Omedi, is a national of the United Arab Emirates who was introduced to Baffour as a gold dealer residing in Ghana by Abass who is currently in Dubai.
Chief Inspector Lawer told the court that Baffour later sent an invitation visa in the name of Mpohor Mines Company, operating in the Western Region, to the complainant, to enable (him) complainant travel to Ghana to transact business.
Upon Farhad’s arrival in Ghana, Olatunji who resided at Dawhenya received the complainant at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). The court heard that Omoley also resided at Lakeside in Accra.
According to the prosecution’s statement, Farhad was sent to Time Security Company at Achimota, Accra, where Olatunji and Baffour showed him 30 kilogrammes of gold bars to convince him that Baffour was a genuine gold dealer.
Prosecution said five kilogrammes of gold bars were picked at random in the presence of the complainant and tested as pure gold when they carried out the test at Sewia Mining Limited at Achimota.
Farhad then agreed to purchase the gold at $60,000 per one kilogramme after negotiations and arrangements were made for the gold to be transported to Dubai.
Chief Insp Lawer told the court that the complainant and Baffour together with Olatunji sat in a vehicle and proceeded to the KIA with the one kilogramme of gold bar the complainant had bought.
Upon arriving at the airport, Baffour called three custom officers to facilitate documentation, to enable the complainant travel with the gold to Dubai.
The custom officers then came for the gold and said it will be delivered after the final stage of the documentation when the complainant is about to set off.
The Ghana News Agency reports that the complainant was convinced about the transaction after seeing the customs officers in their uniforms.
However, after the complainant had waited for some time, Baffour together with the custom officers were not forthcoming with the gold.
According to Chief Inspector Lawer, the complainant had his money ($60,000) in a box in the vehicle, which Olatunji was driving and in which both were waiting upon Baffour and the custom officers.
The court heard that immediately the complainant alighted from the vehicle, Olatunji sped off together with the $60,000.
The complainant then reported to the police leading to the arrest of Olatunji and Omoley at Dawhenya.
Chief Insp Lawer said the police retrieved five metal bars in yellowish colour and a small safe containing $3,500 in Omoley’s possession.
According to the prosecution, Omoley claimed that the metals and $3,500 were given to him by Baffour, who had absconded.