Three siblings accused of running a sophisticated fraud syndicate were arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday for impersonating Prof. Joshua Alabi, a former campaign manager for President John Dramani Mahama, to defraud a Council of State member of GH¢60,000.
The accused, Nurudeen Abdul Ganew (40), Nurudeen Rashid (29) and Nurudeen Gafaru (20) pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud by false pretences, impersonation and defrauding by false pretences.
The case is being presided over by Her Honour Sedinam Awo Kwadam.
According to Chief Inspector Jacob Maalo Kuubal, the complainant, Mr. Addae, a Council of State member for the Central Region and a constituency chairman at Twifo Praso, received a phone call on March 3, 2025 from a man purporting to be Prof. Joshua Alabi.
The caller, later identified as the first accused, Abdul Ganew, offered to assist him in purchasing a Toyota Land Cruiser and 10 trucks supposedly available through auction for his mining business.
Ganew allegedly introduced a supposed customs officer named “DOP Fidais Tahiru” who requested payment for documentation and TIN generation.
The complainant was subsequently instructed to pay GH¢60,000 via two MTN Mobile Money accounts – 0545569345 and 0552168220 – under the pretext of initiating the acquisition process.
The complainant complied, transferring funds from his GCB Bank account.
However, when a further GH¢200,000 was demanded, suspicions were aroused.
Attempts to confirm the identity of the alleged Prof. Alabi via WhatsApp video call were rebuffed and all further communications ceased.
Investigations led by the National Signals Bureau and the prosecution team revealed a well-coordinated scheme involving impersonation of high-profile figures.
Abdul Ganew was traced to his residence in Wa, where a search uncovered multiple phones, SIM cards, ID cards, pen drives and GH¢14,896 cash.
He is a known offender, previously convicted by the Wa Circuit Court for a similar offence.
Subsequent arrests of Rashid and Gafaru at Subinso-Wenchi in the Bono Region unearthed a trove of electronic devices, including multiple iPhones, Samsung and Itel phones and 12 MTN SIM cards, some of which had been used in the transaction with Addae.
Investigators also found a database of political party constituency executives and an exercise book used to track proceeds and SIM usage, further pointing to a larger fraud network.
The prosecution maintains that the siblings operated a fraud syndicate targeting chiefs, politicians and business people.
Abdul Ganew was the front man, initiating contact and impersonating public figures, while Rashid and Gafaru managed the logistics of receiving and withdrawing the illicit funds through merchants in various cities including Wa, Wenchi, Accra and Techiman.
The accused have been granted bail set at GH¢150,000 each with three sureties – one of whom must be justified.
The bail execution is scheduled for July 25, 2025.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is expected to file full disclosures and witness statements ahead of the next hearing, adjourned to July 21, 2025.
Notably, this is not the first time the trio has appeared before the courts. They are reportedly facing additional charges in Circuit Courts 2 and 11 in Accra, for allegedly impersonating Dr. Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President in another elaborate scam targeting traditional rulers.
Investigations into the broader activities of the syndicate are ongoing.
