Accra: A Ghanaian businessman, Abdul Hayyu Oudou, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a Chinese national of GHS1,141,510 and US$1,900. Oudou, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretenses, was granted bail in the sum of GHS2 million with four sureties. Three of these sureties must be gainfully employed, as ordered by the court presided over by Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah. Additionally, Oudou has been instructed to deposit his passport at the Court's Registry.
According to Ghana News Agency, the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Ebenezer Teye Okuffo, has been tasked with filing disclosures ahead of Oudou's next court appearance, scheduled for August 12, 2025. The complainant, Gao Yao, a Chinese businessman residing in Ghana, had initiated contact with suppliers in China and Singapore in May 2023 to procure oil and painting materials.
Oudou, who operates a forex business at Rawlings Park, Accra, allegedly advised Gao Yao to entrust the funds to him for transfer to Sinopec Lubricant Singapore PTE Ltd. and Shanghai Janhong New Material Technology Co. Ltd. On May 17, 2023, Oudou reportedly received GHS1,141,510 and US$1,900 from Gao Yao and later presented swift receipts indicating that payments had been processed through Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana Ltd.
However, Gao Yao later discovered that the suppliers had not received the funds. Subsequent checks revealed that the swift receipts presented by Oudou were not genuine, leading to a police report and Oudou's arrest. During investigations, Oudou claimed he had passed the money to an individual known only as 'Frank' to execute the payments and had obtained the receipts from him. Oudou was unable to aid police in locating or identifying Frank.
