BNI stops Ruby's pal

It has emerged that Alhaji Mohammed Dawood, the man who allegedly facilitated the use of the VVIP section of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) by the convicted drug baroness, Nayele Ametefeh aka Ruby Adu-Gyamfi and her ‘girls’ for their trip to London, was prevented from travelling abroad on Sunday.

The state prosecution alleged that Alhaji Dawood made telephone calls to the boss of the VVIP section at the KIA to facilitate the processing and embarkation of Ruby Adu-Gyamfi and her ‘girls’ on the BA flight BA078 to the Heathrow Airport in London.

He was said to be travelling to Dubai when some Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) operatives stopped him at the Kotoka International Airport last Sunday.

Alhaji Dawood, a businessman who is among the six persons standing trial for allegedly aiding and abetting Ruby to export narcotic drugs, was prevented by the BNI officers because he had a case in court.

DAILY GUIDE learnt from sources within the BNI that the issue had since been resolved and the businessman reportedly travelled yesterday.

He made an impromptu appearance in court yesterday with his lawyer Kwabena Addo Atuah to complain about the restrictions placed on him by the BNI even though the court had earlier said he could not be restricted in his movements pending the opening of the case at the circuit court.

The trial Judge, Francis Obiri, was not the least enthused about the supposed treatment meted out to Alhaji Dawood by the BNI operatives.

He said instead of coming to court to prosecute the accused persons in the case, the prosecution had rather come with the excuse that they were still investigating the case.

He added: “Who says if you have a case in court you can’t travel? Where were they (BNI) when the substance was carried away?”

In the view of Mr Obiri, it was such attitude and behaviour that always pushed the government into the payment of judgment debts to individuals.

He ordered Mr Addo Atuah to notify the Attorney-General and the BNI officers to the effect that Alhaji Dawood was free to travel.

The other suspects being tried along with Dawood are Abiel Ashitey Armah, Foreign Service Officer-in-charge of the VVIP Lounge at the KIA; Ahmed Abubakar, Protocol Officer and Theophilus Kissi, a civil servant.

They have all been charged for allegedly abetting Nayele Ametefeh in the first case by allowing her to use the VVIP lounge.

The rest are Sadala Nuhu and Nana Akua Amponsah who reportedly travelled with Ruby and used the VVIP lounge in the process.

Ruby is serving a jail term of eight years, eight months imposed by the Isleworth Crown Court in London for carrying 12kilos of cocaine to the UK after she pleaded guilty to the charge of importation.