Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 11 January 2001

Source: GNA

Four Nigerians charged with robbery

SEKONDI, Ghana -- A Circuit tribunal in Sekondi on Thursday remanded four Nigerians charged with robbery to re-appear on January 24. Their plea was not taken. Prince Umah, alias Sakora, 34, trader; Joshua Gjugu, 20, Barber; Ben Okeke, 37, and Omekah Osendo, 20, both traders, have been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and possessing offensive weapons.

Police Inspector John Akowuah told the court that the accused attacked Mr. Anthony K. Ntsiful, an accountant at the Aboadze Thermal Plant at Benso in the Western Region, on December 30. He said the robbers took from the complainant the Landcruiser vehicle, which he was driving, his personal belongings, cash, documents and his mobile set. Neighbours who heard gunshots fired by the robbers raised the alarm that made the robbers abandon the vehicle at Amantin, a nearby town.

Inspector Akowuah said members of a watchdog committee in the area managed to arrest the robbers who tried to escape through a nearby bush. The prosecution said items including a shotgun, kente cloth, a gold weighing scale, a sharp butchering knife, and cartridges were retrieved from the accused.