A 95-year-old Auto Mechanic, Nuumo Borlabi Sam Prempeh, and his accomplice, Nii Sookpoti Nii Bortier Moko II, a 53-year-old traditional ruler, are expected to appear before the Accra Circuit Court on October 21, 2025 over allegations of defrauding a businessman of more than GH¢1.1 million and several vehicles under the pretext of selling him land at Sakumono.
The two are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence, contrary to Sections 23(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
When the case was called, Nii Sookpoti appeared before the court, while Nuumo Prempeh was absent.
His lawyer informed the court that the 95-year-old had taken ill and had gone to the hospital earlier that morning.
The court, presided over by a Circuit Court judge, therefore, deferred their plea to October 21, 2025.
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Daniel Appiah-Ofori, the complainant, Mr. Richard Asante-Amoah, Chief Executive Officer of Stravants Limited, resides at Sakumono.
The accused persons, both residents of Nungua, allegedly approached the complainant in 2014, claiming to be heads of the Dzenge We Family of Nungua and offering a parcel of land at Sakumono for sale.
After inspecting the land, Mr. Asante-Amoah expressed interest in developing an eco-tourism site and entered into an agreement with the accused persons, who subsequently received GH¢569,231.00 in cash and several vehicles – including a BMW X3 valued at US$28,000, two Hyundai Elantra vehicles worth US$27,400 and a Jeep Cherokee valued at GH¢150,000 – all amounting to GH¢1,107,371.00.
The accused allegedly provided documents purportedly confirming the transaction. However, investigations revealed that the accused persons had no legal authority or title to the land, which was later discovered to be under government ownership and reserved for Games and Wildlife. Structures erected by the complainant were demolished and his workers were driven away.
The accused persons attempted to compensate him by allocating another piece of land near the Celebrity Golf Course at Sakumono, where the complainant again invested GH¢255,000 in construction – only for the government to demolish those structures as well.
The prosecution said the accused persons refunded GH¢215,000 of the complainant’s additional expenditure, but failed to reimburse the full amount or return the vehicles.
After police investigations confirmed their lack of ownership and authority to sell the land, they were charged and arraigned before the court.
The case has been adjourned to October 21, 2025, for the accused persons to take their plea.
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