Benjilo gets all assets back...`ll cost state billions of cedis

An Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday ordered the state to release with immediate effect, all assets belonging to the one-time Ghanaian businessman and now a Pastor, George Adu Bonsu popularly known as Benjilo, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges of dealing in narcotic drugs in 1997.

The court presided over by Justice Victor Ofoe, said the action of the defendants made of The Inspector General of Police (IGP), The Narcotics Control Board and the Attorney General (AG) was unreasonable, arbitrary, unjustifiable and unlawful as he finds no law supporting their action.

Benjilo was convicted in April 1997, and certain properties being houses and vehicles believed to be his were seized by the state.

The plaintiffs, Benjilo Fabrics Company Ltd., Mrs. Grace Adu Bonsu, Prof. Barima Azumah Nelson, Denis Adu Bonsu, Raymond Kofi Adu Amankwah and Madam Yaa Konadu sued the defendants claiming that the seized properties were not for Benjilo and sought the release of properties.

The plaintiffs were claiming for loss of use of the vehicles that the defendants seized since 1997 and 1998 being GCM Typhoon, Mercedes Benz and the Nissan Pathfinder, this the court stated that the defendants had reason to keep the cars until the disposal of the forfeiture proceedings case at the Supreme Court.

The court held that the defendants could be blamed for the period the appeal took before its disposal, he said any damages he would have to award against the defendants for keeping these vehicles would have to be any date from May 2001.

The defendants, he noted further have kept these vehicles without legal authority from May 2001, as the Mercedes Benz car was to be sold; the other two were in use by Mrs. Grace Adu Bonsu and the other the company.

According to the court, the awarded amount of ¢150,000million per year loss of use for each of the three cars should be reasonable in the circumstances of this issues
The court indicated that from the evidence the defendants took custody of these vehicles believing that they belonged to Benjilo.

He further awarded cost in the sum of ¢50millon, and ¢80millon damages and further ordered that the stock taken on June 5,1995 being ¢1.1billion should be paid to plaintiff at a prevailing commercial rate with interest.

The 1st plaintiff company is claiming a leasehold interest on houses No. C618/2 and 521/1 at Salaga Market and a Swelyn Street respectively and the ownership of vehicles, Nissan Pathfinder with registration No. GR 4835.

The house at Salaga Market according to the court plaintiff belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Nanka Bruce, who leased it out to the plaintiff for 20years, because the 1st plaintiff are unable to pay the agreed rent because of the closure of shops.

The court noted that as far back as November, 1998, the plaintiff were before a court interpleading for their properties when the state filed forfeiture proceedings in respect of these properties but the case was struck out on the grounds that Benjilo's appeal was still pending and were further advised that they were at liberty to seek redress in another for a which is the suit filed by the plaintiff in the Fast Track Court.

Read full details in tomorrow's edition.