Ghanaian Court Remands Nigerian Businessman For Alleged $130,000 Fraud

An Accra Circuit Court, on Wednesday, detained Nigerian businessman, Adesolape Funmise Ogunba, for allegedly defrauding another Nigerian, Ndiomyi Bassey, of $130,000.

Ogunba, 40, was accused of collecting the said amount on the pretext of selling him a wristwatch but did not follow through with the sale.

The police arraigned the suspect on allegations of defrauding by false pretence and criminal breach of trust.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raymond Ackom, informed the court that Ogunba who was living in Dubai between 2022 and 2023 contacted Bassey and they decided to do business together.

Bassey, who was also a businessman, residing at Plot 192 Fiore Drive, Trassacco, East Legon, transferred the sum of $130,000 to Ogunba for the purchase of a Richard Mille 1102 wristwatch, which he had posted on his Snapchat account.

Ackom said the complainant, who was already familiar with the accused, on July 6, 2022, transferred N11,960,000 from his account to Ogunba’s account in Nigeria and sent the remaining amount to the accused in Dubai using a Bitcoin wallet number provided by the accused.

According to him, Ogunba confirmed receiving the full sum of $130,000 and assured Bassey that he would deliver the watch in Ghana, but he did not deliver the watch as promised.

Ogunba, after that, stopped all communication with the complainant and went into hiding

The prosecution stated that Bassey initiated criminal proceedings through INTERPOL, resulting in a warrant issued by Magistrate District Court Judge, Mrs Ama Adomako Kwarkye, leading to Ogunba’s arrest.

According to Ackom, during investigation, Ogunba admitted to have received the sum of N11,960.000 from Bassey but claimed that part of the money sent via Bitcoin wallet was with a Nigerian accomplice.

The presiding judge, Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, subsequently adjourned proceedings and remanded Ogunba into police custody.