Accra March 28, GNA - Two Nigerians, who allegedly purchased fungicides estimated at 290 million cedis belonging to the Government of Ghana on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with conspiracy and stealing. Basil Okechekwu and Joseph Eju Abung, pleaded not guilty and the court admitted them to 100 million cedi bail with two sureties each to be justified. The accused persons would reappear on April 24.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Mary Agbozo told the court that on March 17, 2006, personnel from the Armour Car Squadron Unit of the Police Service on night patrols on the Achimota Highway spotted two urban buses loaded with goods suspected to be stolen items. The Police intercepted 11 fertilizer bags containing 23 sachets of Rodomil, a fungicide belonging to the Ghana Cocoa Board, which was to be sold to farmers at subsidized prices. When Okechewkwu and Abung were queried, they claimed ownership and stated that they bought the fungicides at 39 million cedis from Kumasi and were transporting them to Nigeria.