Nigerian criminals invade Ghana

May 22, 1998

Accra - Nigerian criminals, escaping the political turmoil in their country, have virtually invaded Ghana and have attempted to dupe a number of Ghanaians but most of them have been arrested.

One of them, 34-year old Emmanuel Umeh, who styled himself as a medical doctor and helped a number of young girls to abort their pregnancies has been arrested by the police.

Police said when Umeh's room was searched, assorted medical equipment believed to have been used for the abortions were uncovered. Also seized were x-ray and prescription forms bearing the names of different hospitals.

Police also found an appointment letter and other documents bearing the stamp of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital purported to have been issued by the hospital.

Umeh told police that he attended the University of Nigeria where he was awarded the Bachelor of Science Degree in General Medicine in 1988. He had earlier said he is a Catholic priest in charge of the Isseleuku, Bendel State in Nigeria.

Like a chameleon, he changed his story in another breath. He claimed when he arrived in Ghana he was employed at the Gynaecology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but authorities at the hospital said Umeh has never been employed there.

Two Nigerians, Larry Obinna and Jude Madu, have also been arrested by the police for defrauding a businessman of 33 million cedis at the premises of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Police said Obinna claimed to be a dealer in Chemicals in Nigeria with subsidiary companies in Niger and Cote d'Ivoire. He called the businessman Peter Amoabeng on phone that his company wanted to transact business with him and the two met for discussions.

Obinna came with a man he claimed to be his boss and said their company in Nigeria wanted Amoabeng to supply them with 600 cartons of parafin wax, 200 cartons of mosquito coils and seven cartons of ampules of Tamalin.

Amoabeng agreed to supply all the items except the Tamalin but Obinna said he knew someone at Korle Bu who could supply it and introduced him to Madu who was in a white doctor's robe and claimed he was working at the hospital.

Amoabeng agreed to pay for the Tamalin with the understanding he would get the profit when the items was sold to the Nigerian company.

He handed 33 million cedis to Madu who said he was going to make payment but on second thought Amoabeng decided to follow him. He shouted when he saw Madu running away with the bag containing the money and was arrested. African News