As a trader, another stole $50,000, GH₵50,000, iPhone 15 and other gadgets from John Kumah’s wife

Lillian Kumah, widow of Mr. Kumah

An Accra Circuit Court on Friday denied bail to two people who allegedly stole money, electrical appliances and other items from the widow of Mr John Kumah.

Adams Sanogo, a trader, and Kwame Dunga, who is at large, allegedly conspired to steal $50,000, GH₵50,000 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max worth GH₵15,000 from Pastor Lillian Kumah, widow of Mr Kumah, a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Ejisu Constituency.

They are also believed to have stolen her Apple iPad worth GH₵15,000, a Samsung Z Fold mobile phone worth GH₵12,000, a Microsoft laptop worth GH₵7,000, a black school bag worth GH₵400 and an Apple Watch whose value is unknown.

Rabiu Falilu, a high school graduate (SHS), is also accused of dishonestly receiving some stolen items.

The accused, who were arrested in the Ashanti region and handed over to the police in Accra, deny wrongdoing. They have been remanded in custody to assist in the investigation and arrest of Kwame Dunga, their alleged accomplice, who is currently at large.

The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo dismissed the bail application filed by Mr Benjamin Ofori, counsel for the accused, on the grounds that the case was sensitive and would not serve the public interest.

They will be restored on August 7, 2024.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Raymond Ackom stated that Pastor Lillian Kumah, the complainant, is the widow of Mr Kumah, a resident of Achimota-Mile 7 in Accra.

Sanogo is a mobile phone salesman in Adum-PZ and a resident of Kokoso, two suburbs of Kumasi, while Falilu lived in Jamasi in the Ashanti Region.

He added that on December 29, 2023, an unknown person gained access to Pastor Kumah’s residence and stole her personal belongings including an iPhone 15 Pro Max worth GH₵15,000, a Samsung Z Fold mobile phone worth GH₵12,000, an Apple iPad worth GH₵15,000, a Microsoft laptop worth GH₵7,000, a black school bag worth GH₵400, an Apple Watch whose value is yet to be known, as well as cash of GH₵50,000 and $50,000.

The prosecution said it had filed a formal complaint with police, providing them with closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident. On July 24, 2024, police investigations led to the arrest of Falilu, who was in possession of the complainant’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, in Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, the court was told.

The prosecutor said that after his arrest, he led the police to Adum PZ, Kumasi, where Sanogo was also arrested. During interrogation, Sanogo admitted to selling the phone to Falilu.

The court was told that he also named Dunga, another mobile phone salesman at Adum PZ who is currently at large, as his accomplice.

The prosecutor’s office said Sanogo and Falilu were warned, charged with the crime and brought to court. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to arrest Dunga.

Praying for bail, Mr. Ofori said Sanogo and Falilu had permanent residences, were not a flight risk and had people with adequate means to bail them. They had also assisted the police in their investigations and were willing to continue to do so.

He said Sanogo was a middleman who bought the phone from Kwame and Falilu was an ordinary high school graduate who led the police to Sanogo from whom he got the phone.

The prosecution opposed the bail application and said that if the accused were released, they would obstruct investigations and would not appear at trial as they have been at large since 2023. Police sent intelligence officers to the Ashanti region who arrested them just two days ago.