*With Crime Proceeds, Accused Bought Cars, Farm -Prosecution
*The Togo Connection
*How Law-abiding Fellow Nigerian Informed On Duo
*Granted N240.3m Bail
Two persons, identified as Nigerians, have been charged before the Accra Circuit Court in Ghana for allegedly defrauding an American and a Canadian of $715,000 (about N1.06billion).
The court heard that they allegedly did so under the pretext of helping the two acquire a consignment of goods valued at over US$12 million through an online scheme.
Both men, named as Solomon David King and Kingsley Okokon Etuk, both aged 48, were charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and money laundering.
In popular usage in Nigeria, internet fraud is called ‘yahoo yahoo’.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court, presided over by Susana Eduful, admitted the accused persons to bail in a combined sum of GH¢2 million (about N240.3m) to be justified with two sureties each; each surety is required to provide title deeds in their (sureties’) names.
Also, the accused’s digital devices which they used for the alleged fraudulent scheme have been retrieved for forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations.
The case has been adjourned to November 3, 2025.
Prosecution’s Facts
Narrating the facts of the case, the prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, stated that the two allegedly committed the offence between 2020 and 2025.
The accused are said to have convinced the victims online that they could assist them in acquiring and shipping a consignment of goods valued at over US$12 million.
According to the prosecution, the victims, believing the representations to be accurate, made payments in tranches via money transfers and intermediaries in the USA and Togo.
The victims were eventually lured to Togo under the pretext of receiving the consignment, but ended up parting with additional funds and returned home empty-handed.
It was later revealed that the consignment never existed.
The prosecutor told the court that the matter came to light after the victims narrated their experience to Victor Efiong, a fellow Nigerian resident in Accra, who then reported the incident to the police.
The prosecutor alleged that part of the defrauded funds were used to purchase personal assets.
King is said to have,among others, bought a Hyundai Elantra, while Etuk allegedly acquired a Toyota Camry and a five-hectare farm plantation at Suhum, Eastern Region, Ghana — all purportedly acquired from proceeds of the unlawful activity.
