Nigerian defrauds business woman of 168 million cedis

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 Jan. '99 - A Nigerian businessman, Emmanuel Michael Agbarakwem Iheme, yesterday appeared before a circuit tribunal, charged with defrauding a Ghanaian businesswoman of 70,000 dollars or 168 million cedis. Iheme, 36, pleaded not guilty and was granted 200 million cedis bail with two sureties to be justified in court and to re-appear on 18 January. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Elizabeth Allandu told the tribunal that, sometime in February 1997, the business woman, whose name was not given, met the accused who introduced himself as a businessman based in London. The prosecutor said Iheme talked business with the complainant and asked her to help him to transfer 17.5 million dollars from Colombia through her bankers for a fee, of 22 percent of the amount but the complainant's principals in London declined the offer. The accused thereafter was able to get the complainant complainant to give him 23,000 dollars, which he refunded through his brother called Barry in London. Having been able to win the trust of the complainant, Iheme succeeded in making her to part with 70,000 dollars on the pretext of purchasing a house with the assurance that his brother Barry will refund it. But when the complainant contacted Barry for the refund of her money, Barry told her Iheme had no money in his accounts. The complainant came to Ghana and confronted the accused, who after several demands, failed to refund the amount.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 Jan. '99 - A Nigerian businessman, Emmanuel Michael Agbarakwem Iheme, yesterday appeared before a circuit tribunal, charged with defrauding a Ghanaian businesswoman of 70,000 dollars or 168 million cedis. Iheme, 36, pleaded not guilty and was granted 200 million cedis bail with two sureties to be justified in court and to re-appear on 18 January. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Elizabeth Allandu told the tribunal that, sometime in February 1997, the business woman, whose name was not given, met the accused who introduced himself as a businessman based in London. The prosecutor said Iheme talked business with the complainant and asked her to help him to transfer 17.5 million dollars from Colombia through her bankers for a fee, of 22 percent of the amount but the complainant's principals in London declined the offer. The accused thereafter was able to get the complainant complainant to give him 23,000 dollars, which he refunded through his brother called Barry in London. Having been able to win the trust of the complainant, Iheme succeeded in making her to part with 70,000 dollars on the pretext of purchasing a house with the assurance that his brother Barry will refund it. But when the complainant contacted Barry for the refund of her money, Barry told her Iheme had no money in his accounts. The complainant came to Ghana and confronted the accused, who after several demands, failed to refund the amount.