An Accra Circuit Court has detained Nigerian businessman Adesolape Funmise Ogunba for allegedly defrauding another Nigerian of $130,000.
The 40-year-old is accused of collecting the amount under the pretense of selling a wristwatch but did not follow through with the sale.
Charged with defrauding by false pretence, Ogunba pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, remanded him into police custody on October 16, 2024.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raymond Ackom, prosecuting, informed the court that the complainant, Mr. Nduomyi Bassey, is a Nigerian businessman residing at Plot 192 Fiore Drive, Trassacco, East Legon.
The prosecution said that between 2022 and 2023, Ogunba, who was living in Dubai, contacted Bassey through Snapchat and WhatsApp.
It said Ogunba, with the intent to commit a crime, deceived Bassey into transferring $130,000 under the pretext of selling him a Richard Mille 1102 wristwatch, which he had posted on his Snapchat account.
On July 6, 2022, Bassey, who was already familiar with the accused, transferred 11,960,000 Naira from his account to Ogunba’s account in Nigeria.
The prosecution stated that Bassey transferred the remaining amount to the accused in Dubai using a bitcoin wallet number provided by the accused.
It said that Ogunba confirmed receiving the full sum of $130,000 and assured Bassey that he would deliver the watch in Ghana, but he did not follow through.
Ogunba, after then, 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, which led to Ogunba’s arrest.
During the investigation, Ogunba admitted to receiving 11,960,000 Naira from Bassey.
However, he claimed that part of the money sent via bitcoin wallet was with a Nigerian accomplice believed to be hiding in Nigeria and Dubai.
The prosecution added that further investigations would be carried out in collaboration with Interpol to uncover the details of the crime.
