An Accra Circuit Court has remanded Nigerian businessman Adesolape Funmise Ogunba, 40, for allegedly defrauding another Nigerian of $130,000. He is accused of collecting this sum under the false pretense of selling a wristwatch but failed to deliver.
Ogunba, charged with defrauding by false pretenses, pleaded not guilty during the hearing. Presiding over the case, Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah ordered him into police custody on October 16, 2024.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raymond Ackom, the complainant, Mr. Nduomyi Bassey, is a Nigerian businessman residing in Trassacco, East Legon. The prosecution detailed that between 2022 and 2023, Ogunba, who was living in Dubai, contacted Bassey via Snapchat and WhatsApp.
The prosecution alleges that Ogunba deceived Bassey into transferring $130,000 for a Richard Mille 1102 wristwatch, which he had advertised on his Snapchat account. On July 6, 2022, Bassey, familiar with Ogunba, transferred 11,960,000 Naira to Ogunba’s account in Nigeria. He subsequently sent the remaining amount using a Bitcoin wallet number provided by Ogunba.
After receiving the full sum, Ogunba promised to deliver the watch in Ghana but failed to follow through, cutting off all communication and going into hiding.
Bassey initiated criminal proceedings through Interpol, resulting in a warrant issued by Magistrate District Court Judge Ama Adomako-Kwarkye, leading to Ogunba’s arrest.
During the investigation, Ogunba admitted to receiving 11,960,000 Naira from Bassey but claimed that a portion of the Bitcoin funds was with a Nigerian accomplice believed to be hiding in Nigeria and Dubai. The prosecution stated that further investigations would continue in collaboration with Interpol to uncover more details about the crime.