Two Nigerian nationals who have been arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court for failing to comply with the lockdown restriction orders have been granted bail in the sum of GHc50, 000.

The two Joseph Adewale, 20,and Ajila Aliu, 32, on their first day in court pleaded for clemency after they “pleaded guilty with explanations.”

They later changed their plea to not guilty and were then remanded in police cells.

But in court on Thursday, May 7, 2020, the accused persons were granted bail in the sum of GHc25, 000 each.

Additionally, they are to produce two sureties of persons within the jurisdiction of the court. They are also to deposit their passports with the registrar of the court.

Charges

Adewale, and Aliu have been charged with two counts, to wit, conspiracy to commit crime, namely failure to comply with restriction imposed, and failure to comply with restriction imposed; contrary to section 23 (I) of the criminal offences Act 1960 29 and Paragraph 1 (I) of EI 65 and section 6 of the Imposition of restriction Act 2020 (Act 1012).

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Guiliver Tenkorang, has been urged to make available all documents prosecution intended to rely on to the accused persons by way of disclosure.

They are to reappear in court on June 9, 2020.

Brief facts

The brief facts as presented to the court by Chief Inspector Guilliver Tenkorang were that the complainant, Isaac Ofori-Poku, is a businessman residing at James Town, Accra.

The accused persons, Joseph Adewale and Ajika Aliu, are Nigerians residing at Agbogbloshie, also in Accra.

He said on April 13, 2020, at about 2:00 p.m., the complainant went out to buy food and he spotted the accused persons carrying digital weighing machines going from one house to another and checking blood pressure and weights of unsuspecting residents of the area.

Chief Inspect Tenkorang told the court that, “Due to restriction imposed on movement of persons, complainant became alarmed and subsequently arrested the accused persons and brought them to the police station for questioning.”

He told the court that a search conducted in accused persons’ bags revealed one blood pressure machine, one digital weighing machine and eight small containers of food suplements from Neolife Company Limited.”

Upon interrogation, he said, the accused persons admitted they were going to check blood pressure for their clients at Janmes Town,” a clear breach of the restriction order imposed.

“Investigations,” he said, “revealed that the accused persons were checking blood pressure and weight of residents of the community.”

He told the court that, “two women who live in the community have confirmed to the police that the accused persons have been checking blood pressure of them regularly.”

They were subsequently charged with the offences after investigations and brought before the court.

Source: Ghana/Kasapafmonline.com/Muntalla Inusah