An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah has been informed that the self-styled Evangelist, Patricia Asieduaa, alias Nana Agradaa, attempted escaping the jurisdiction to avert trial, after some members of the public reported to the police that she had duped them.
The Court was informed by the prosecuting officer, Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong that the Ghana Police Service through intelligence gathered that after October 5, 2022 money doubling episode, the 40-year old Nana Agradaa wanted to abscond from Ghana.
ASP Oppong said the police had to virtually block the Airport to prevent the accused from taking a flight out of the country.
He said that the police could not trace Nana Agradaa at the various places that the law enforcement officers thought she could be found. Therefore, they had to fall on technology to track her location, via her mobile phone.
According to him, Nana Agradaa, after realising that the police was closing up on her and there was nowhere to hide, reported herself to the police.
ASP Oppong urged the court to refuse a bail application filed by Nana Agradaa’s lawyers, because she is a flight risk, does not have a fixed place of abode and would interfere with police investigations.
“It took the police more than two days to force the Accused to appear,” he stated.
The prosecuting officer added that although the police had been able to process the complaints of six people, 50 others are in the queue with similar accounts.
The prosecuting officer said the police would organise identification parade to ensure Nana Agradaa was the one the complainants claim to have defrauded.
Reindolf Tsunami, Counsel for Nana Agradaa, arguing for the bail application, said his client voluntarily drove to the police station and, therefore, she is not a flight risk.
The defence Counsel added that Nana Agradaa should be granted bail, as she is a public figure and has several homes, as well as people of substance to stand surety for her.
Furthermore, he stated that nowhere in the fact sheet before the court did the prosecution mention that his client had a direct contact with the complainants.
He added that she has a church, which is doing well and there is no indication that the accused poses danger or harm to the public, since “the Accused is a Reverend discharging her divine duties to the public.”
The court, however, denied the bail application and remanded Agradaa into police custody and asked her to reappear on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
Agradaa pleaded not guilty to one count of charlatanic advertisement and six counts of defrauding by false pretence.
The brief facts
According to the prosecution, persons allegedly defrauded by Patricia Asieduaa were; Yaa Bremah, Trader from Ahenbubuanu Tafo Kumasi, Emmanuel Kumi from Zenu Ashaiman, George Boateng from Obuasi, Grace Forson, Hairdresser from Swedru, Mary Arthur, Farmer from Takoradi and Patricia Ankamah, a trader from Sunyani.
He said Nana Agradaa, founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry at Weija, was reported to have on October 5, 2022 advertised and invited on Today’s Television and other social media platforms that she is able to double any amount of money an individual gives her.
Thus, the accused, per the said advert invited members of the public to attend all-night service at her church for the alleged money doubling, which the complainants and over one thousand others attended the said all night service and handed over huge sums of money to her.
He added that the police have commenced investigation into the matter and arrested the accused on October 9, 2022. During interrogations, she admitted to the story of the complainants.
Additionally, it was established by investigation that pursuant to the said adverts by the accused on social media, the complainants came from far and near to attend the all-night service to get their monies doubled.
The accused successfully demanded and received huge sums of monies from members of the public who attended the said all night service.
