Nigerian Jailed 25 years for robbing forex bureau

Accra, June 7, GNA - A Nigerian Taxi Driver, who robbed a Forex Bureau of 51 million cedis with three accomplices, was on Monday sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

John Obanor alias Friday, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and robbery. His accomplices Raymond Paul Kwabena Frimpong, alias Edem, Paul Onus Ashaka and Mohammed Abubakari however, pleaded not guilty. They are to reappear on June 21 before the Court presided over by Mr Justice George A Aryeetey.


The case of Prosecution was that the complainant was Madam Trudy Solormey, (Ed Correct) Managing Director of EL-MAL Forex Bureau located at Madina, New Road in Accra.


Frimpong, a Building Contractor, lived at Tantra Hill, while Ashaka, is an unemployed Nigerian and Abubakari is a Painter at Alogboshie, near Achimota.


On October 16, 2000, at about 0145 hours, Obanor, Frimpong, Ashaka and two other Nigerians, now at large armed themselves with three locally manufactured pistols and attacked Mr Iddrisu Issaka, a Cashier of the Forex Bureau and asked him to lie down or face death. Mr Issaka obliged and they succeeded in robbing the forex bureau of 51-million cedis including some foreign currencies and jumped into a waiting taxi with registration number GR 8270 R, which was being driven by Obanor.


The Prosecution said Issaka came out of the Forex Bureau and raised the alarm but that did yield any results. Mr Issaka informed the complainant and alerted the Police about the incident.

The Driver of the taxicab, who had given his car to Obanor as spare driver, heard an announcement and informed the Police at Achimota of his residence at Alogboshie and when the Police got there they found the accused persons sharing their booty in Abubakari's house. During search in the room 7.4 million cedis; one dollar, five pounds sterling; 20,000 CFA were found while one live ammunition was also found in Frimpong's pocket.


During Police interrogation, Obanor, Frimpong and Ashaka admitted the offence and mentioned Pius Orogo alias Papa and Eze Obi both Nigerians as their accomplices.


They further admitted committing other robberies within the Accra Metropolis.


On October 27, 2000, in an identification parade, Mr Issaka identified Obanor and Ashaka as those who robbed him.