WOI Elorm John Ahiakpor, 50, a Military Officer stationed at Military Headquarters, Burma Camp, along with 25-year-old farmer Silas Amewonye, 32-year-old trader Farouk Nuodio, 49-year-old trader Daniel Kwesi Obiri Yeboah (known as Aljazeera), and 25-year-old carpenter Michael Nana Addo, face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping, as well as robbery and kidnapping.
The charges stem from violations of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29), specifically Section 23(1) and 89 for kidnapping, and Section 23(1) and 149 for robbery.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Their legal team, led by Carlos De-Souza and including lawyers Andy Vortia and Dennis Ofori-Aseidu, filed a bail application.
Vortia, representing Ahiakpor, argued for a fair hearing and emphasized that the accusations are bailable, noting Ahiakpor’s unblemished 24-year military career.
The prosecution led by DSP Nana Oppong and including ASP Kofi Anane and ASP Raymond Ackom Dompeh.
However, the prosecution, represented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane, opposed the bail, citing ongoing investigations and the severity of the charges.
ASP Anane urged the court to consider the potential consequences if the defendants are found guilty.
After reviewing the arguments, the court adjourned the case until October 29, 2024.
The complainant, Lodewijk Frederikus, arrived in Ghana on October 17, 2024, to meet his alleged gay partner Amewonye regarding a land proposed to him by his alleged partner to be purchase in Ningo Prampram.
Upon his arrival, Amewonye and Nuodio picked him up at Kotoka International Airport and took him to Alexis Lodge in Afienya.
The next day, they moved Frederikus to Amewonye’s residence in EMEFs estate, where he lives with Nuodio and Addo.
On October 20, Frederikus expressed concern about Amewonye’s and Nuodio’s behavior and indicated his desire to return home.
In response, Amewonye locked him in a room and enlisted the other defendants to kidnap him, demanding a ransom of 15,000 Euros for his release.
Fearing for his safety, Frederikus negotiated a lower ransom of 5,000 Euros, but the accused insisted on 8,000 Euros.
Nuodio provided bank details for the transfer.
When Frederikus delayed sending the money, four of the accused—excluding Amewonye—took him at gunpoint to a Stanbic ATM in Mataheko, forcing him to withdraw Ghc6,000.
While awaiting the ransom transfer, Frederikus managed to make a distress call to the police, who promptly rescued him and apprehended the suspects.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to their involvement in the crimes.
