Nigerians before court for forging Kufuor’s signature

Eight Nigerians will be arraigned before an Accra circuit court on charges of forging and using the signature and letterhead of the President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor.

The eight, Victor Akamanuma, businessman at large, Benson Nnadi, businessman, Budy Sampson, trader, Raymond Popson, computer operator, Wright Abdul-Wahid, computer Engineer, Austin Femi, student, Toyosi Agbolade, student and Chucks Andy, trader are to be charged with conspiracy to commit crime, contrary to section 23(1) of the criminal Act 29/60.

It is believed that the complainant is a French National whilst the accused persons are all Nigerians.

Detective Sergeant Charles Adaba indicated on the charge sheet that the leader of the suspects, Victor Akamanuma owned an Internet café manned by Raymond and Wright who are computer operator and engineer respectively.

According to him, in the early part of this year, the chairman of the group through some false representation with forged documents, lured complainant into the country to say that he had been bequeathed with a fortune of €8.5 million deposited at the Kokomlemle branch of the SG-SSB bank.

He further went on to tell complainant that before his money could be released to him, an amount of €185,000 ought to be paid.

On April 25, the complainant visited Ghana at the invitation of the syndicate who put him up at the Alisa Hotel in Accra under the leadership of Victor.

In the presence of Benson and Sampson, an amount of €35,000 was taken from complainant as part payment of the tax of €185,000 on the €8.5 million fortune.

Further, DSGT, Adaba noted that the complainant was not issued a receipt but was made to understand that, he must make full payment to get his fortune. They further told the complainant that they had a link with the president who would issue him a 'terrorist -free' certificate at the cost of US$30,000 which he would need to have another amount of $15 million transfered into his account.

This amount he paid and was subsequently given a letter of guarantee on the president's 'letter head' which bore the president's 'signature'.

Complainant returned to France and in discussion, informed a Ghanaian friend about it.

After revising the document, he was informed by his friend that they were forged and that he had been duped.

He was again invited to Ghana to sign the final document by the leader of the syndicate.

The leader of the syndicate, together with Benson and Sampson, met the complainant at the Kotoka Airport.

The complainant having suspected foul play, informed the police in Ghana about the incident.

The police upon a tip off swooped on the accused persons and arrested them whilst in the process of binding some of the documents to unsuspecting victims.

He said efforts were being made to locate other accomplices; the eight would however be arraigned before court on September 5.