The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢520,000 with three sureties—two of whom must be justified with immovable property—to a businessman accused of defrauding a Forex Bureau operator of over GH¢1.1 million under false pretences.
The accused, 46-year-old Adamu Umoro, was ordered to deposit his Ghana Card at the court registry and report to the police investigator regularly until the conclusion of the case. He faces a charge of Defrauding by False Pretence, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to court documents, the incident occurred on or before May 1, 2024, at Rawlings Park in Accra. Prosecutors allege that Umoro approached the complainant, Moro Zibo—a Forex Bureau operator residing in Cantonments—with a promise to exchange GH¢1,168,000 for $80,000 instantly.
The accused reportedly collected the full amount in cedis but returned only $50,000 to Zibo. When asked for the remaining $30,000, Umoro allegedly requested 30 minutes to complete the transaction. However, he failed to return and subsequently became unreachable, switching off his phone.
Efforts by the complainant to contact Umoro proved futile, prompting him to report the matter to the police. After months of evading arrest, the accused was finally apprehended on April 30, 2025, at his hideout in Tetegu, a suburb of Weija.
Prosecutors disclosed in court that Umoro intentionally misled the complainant to part with his money, fully aware that he would not provide the promised dollar equivalent.
The case has been adjourned to July 7, 2025, for further proceedings.
