An Accra Circuit Court has remanded an Ivorian national, Lyi-Oufou Nikiema Sanogo, into lawful custody for allegedly defrauding a Ghanaian businesswoman of CFA 14 million, equivalent to GH¢308,000 under the pretext of supplying raw rubber from Côte d’Ivoire.
His alleged accomplice, Adjoumani Kouame Ishmael Musah, also an Ivorian, is currently at large, with the court issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.
Presiding as the relieving judge, His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah of Circuit Court 8, Accra, remanded Sanogo (A1) after he pleaded not guilty to two counts of abetment of crime and defrauding by false pretences contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The Fraud
According to the prosecution, led by Fusaine Ayoba, the incident began on July 9, 2025 when the complainant and a witness, Fred Nana Paralon, contacted Musah about procuring raw rubber from Côte d’Ivoire.
Musah claimed to have reliable connections with suppliers and arranged a meeting in Abengourou, Côte d’Ivoire.
Sanogo (A1) was introduced as the transporter. He drove the complainant and witness to a hotel and the following day, Musah (A2) collected funds from the complainant, under the guise of purchasing packaging materials for the rubber.
On July 15, 2025 Sanogo, driving a DAF XF Truck with registration number 7078HR01, met the complainant at the Mamprusi Border, near Oseikojokrom in the Western North Region of Ghana.
The truck was allegedly loaded with rubber.
However, when the witness requested to inspect the loading site, Musah cited “security reasons” and discouraged the visit.
To support the deception, the accused had sprinkled remnants of real rubber around the truck to make it appear genuine. Based on this, the complainant paid GH¢308,000 in cash to Musah.
However, upon reaching the Ghanaian side of the border, Sanogo parked the truck, and Musah was seen fleeing the scene on a motorbike.
Upon inspection by the witness, it was discovered that the contents of the truck were not rubber, but waste material.
A report was immediately filed at the Akaatiso Police Station, and the truck was impounded. The matter was escalated to National Security for investigation.Sanogo was later arrested and brought to Accra.
During interrogation, he admitted transporting the materials, but confirmed they were not rubber as claimed.
The court adjourned the case to August 13, 2025, to allow for further investigations and to await the arrest of Musah.
Meanwhile, a bench warrant has been issued for Musah’s arrest.
