Court remands Agradaa in police custody

Justice Agbenorsi Oct - 10 - 2022 , 15:03

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded Patricia Asiedua, aka Nana Agradaa, the Founder of the Heaven Way Champion International Ministry at Weija in Accra, in police custody over the alleged money doubling scam.

Nana Agradaa was arraigned at the court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah on Monday, charged with one count of charlatanic advertisement and six counts of defrauding by false pretence.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against her.

The prosecution alleged that the accused, in her quest to deceive members of the public that she could double any amount given to her, advertised the alleged money doubling scam on Today Television and other social media platforms.

Six complainants, according to the prosecution, gave monies ranging from GH¢230 to GH¢760, to Nana Agradaa under the pretext of having their movies doubled.

The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong told the court that police was authenticating over 50 complainants against the accused.

Court remands Agradaa in police custody https://t.co/qbXRTxT8vu pic.twitter.com/eljqQGW2nk
— GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) October 10, 2022

Charges

Nana Agradaa was charged with one count of charlatanic advertisement and six counts of defrauding by false pretence when she appeared before the court on Monday.

The accused has however pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her.

Bail Application

Counsel for Nana Agradaa, Randolph Twumasi, in his bail application argued that in spite of the public uproar, his client was innocent until proven guilty.

Counsel further told the court that his client had a fix place of abode and people of good substance to stand as sureties for Nana Agradaa when granted bail.

He added that the suspect was not arrested but drove herself to the police regional office.

“The prosecution could not even establish if the complainants are indeed church members,” he said.

Bail opposed

ASP Oppong rebutted claims that the accused voluntarily turned herself to the police.

He said contrary to the account given by counsel, the police blocked all access to her hideout after intelligence disclosed that the accused had intended to travel.

The accused, he said had no option than to report herself to the police.

The prosecutor further told the court that the accused had no fixed place of abode and would not be available to stand trial when granted bail.

For her own safety and public interest, the prosecutor prayed the court to remand the suspect to keep her away from angry church members.

The judge further remanded the accused and ordered her to re-appear on October 13, 2022.

Prosecution’s facts

The facts presented by ASP Oppong were that on October 5, 2022, the accused advertised and invited on Today's TV and other social media platforms that she was able to double any amount of money an individual gave her.

In the advert, the prosecutor said the accused invited members of the public to attend all-night service at her church to have their monies doubled.

“The complainants and over one thousand other persons attended the said all night service, and upon the request of accused person handed over huge sums of money to the accused but failed to double as alleged,” the prosecutor told the court.

Investigation

ASP Oppong told the court that police commenced investigation into the matter and arrested accused person on October 9, 2022.

He further told the court that the accused during interrogations admitted the story of the complainants as correct.

“Police investigations have established that on 5th October, 2022, accused by a self-made video advertised on Today TV and other social media platforms that she (accused) is able to double any amount of money an individual gives her (accused).

“Further investigation established that the accused person per the said charlatanic advert, invited the public to attend all night church service at Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Weija a suburb of Accra for their monies to be doubled,” he said.

That pursuant to the said adverts by the accused on the social media, the prosecutor said complainants came from far and near to attend an all-night service at Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Weija to get their monies doubled by the accused.

“Accused successfully demanded and received huge sums of monies from some members of the public who attended the said all night service at Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Weija including complainants in this matter as indicated on the face of the charge sheet,” he said.

Further investigations, according to the prosecutor, revealed that the accused undertook the charlatanic advertisement and subsequent money collections with other persons for the purported money doubling.

He said efforts were underway to identify, and arrest such persons to assist investigation.

Writer’s mail: justice.agbenorsi@graphic.com.gh