Nigerian businessman remanded for robbery

A Nigerian businessman who allegedly robbed a Moroccan architect of her handbag, containing money and remittance bank cards in November last year, yesterday appeared before a circuit court in Accra.

The accused, Godwin Momoh, 32, pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery, however, the court, presided over by Madam Afia Owusu Appiah, remanded him into prison custody. He would appear again on April 2, 2020.

Police Chief Inspector William Boateng, prosecuting, said the accused attacked the complainant, Ms Lamia Abouelala, who was on her way from work around the Airport Residential Area in Accra on November 11, last year.

According to the prosecution, the accused trailed Ms Abouelala from behind on the Augustino Netto Street, attacked her and forcefully took her handbag containing GH?171.00, €3.00, an ECOBANK, UK NatWest and Revest Mastercard, and bolted away with the items and the cash.

He said the complainant then raised an alarm, in the course of chasing the accused person, who succeeded in scaling the wall of an apartment, but the complainant was able to hold his legs, whilst hanging on the wall.

“The accused person struggled to free himself and jumped into the residence of one Mr Eshun. The security dogs in the said residence barked and chased the accused person,” he said, adding that, sensing danger, Godwin abandoned Ms Lamia’s bag with its content and scaled another wall of the same building, after which Ms Lamia called the police on phone.

He revealed that the accused tried hiding under some flowers, but with the swift response by the Airport and East Legon police, Godwin was arrested from his hideout, and the police after a further search, found the complainant’s bag with its content, except the €3.00 and one carved wood like a pistol, after another visit to the crime scene by the police a carved wood was found on the side of the wall where the accused person earlier scaled.