3 businessmen in trouble over GH¢621,000 fraudulent oil deal

Three businessmen are wanted by the Accra Circuit Court on suspicion of engaging in a fraudulent oil transaction for GH621,000.

On September 27, 2023, three defendants—Alhaji Iddrisu Ibrahim, Alhaji Abdul Samed, and Simon Muelenga—are scheduled to appear before the court, which will be presided over by Mrs. Ellen Ofei-Ayeh.

The suspects would address allegations of fraud, conspiracy, and issuing counterfeit checks.

The complainant, Mr. Ebenezer Martei, is an entrepreneur and the owner of West Stream Dominion Enterprise. He resides in Dansoman, Accra.

According to reports, Alhaji Ibrahim, Alhaji Yusif, and Muelenga are all successful businessmen.

Alhaji Ibrahim and Alhaji Yussif were introduced to the complainant as businessmen on August 2, 2021, who requested that he furnish them with gasoline and diesel.

According to the prosecution, Alhaji Ibrahim haggled with Martei to buy 54,000 liters of gasoline and 54,000 liters of diesel, totaling GH621,000.

Alhaji Ibrahim neglected to pay the purchase price after receiving the funds.

Martei tried several times, but in vain, to get Alhaji Ibrahim to pay the purchase price.

The court heard that Alhaji Ibrahim thereafter begged the complainant, saying that he had invested his funds in a vessel company and needed some time to clear the bill.

After some time, Alhaji Ibrahim and Alhaji Yussif informed the complaint about their South African business partner, Muelenga, who was engaged in the haulage industry.

Alhaji Ibrahim said he used the Martei’s funds to invest in the South African firm and that he need US$35,000 in order to pay the complainant’s funds for the oil and to return the US$35,000 as well.

The complainant claimed that the accused had received $35,000 from them; however, the court heard otherwise.

According to the prosecution, Alhaji Ibrahim gave the complainant a Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited check for GH621,000 in the name of West Stream Dominion Enterprise when he requested his money.

On April 20, 2022, it was submitted at the Accra Main Branch of Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, where it was refused on the grounds that there were insufficient funds in the account.

The accused were invited via their phones to appear at the police station to aid in the investigation after Martei reported the incident to the authorities, but they retreated into hiding.

In the months since Alhaji Ibrahim’s incarceration in June of this year, Muelenga has returned US$6,000.