Woman remanded for allegedly defrauding businesswoman of $13,000

A 62-year-old self-styled businesswoman, Nana Ama Nwurueze, has been remanded for allegedly defrauding another businesswoman of $13,000 under false pretences.

Nwurueze is accused of posing as a wealthy business mogul with ownership of Ohemaa Plaza at East Legon, fishing vessels in Takoradi, and a house at Airport to convince the complainant to part with her money. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apewa Achana, has charged her with one count of defrauding by false pretence.

She was arrested in March 2024 after a bench warrant was issued in December last year following unsuccessful attempts to apprehend her. Appearing before the Adabraka District Court, presided over by Abena Asoh Owusu-Omenyo, she pleaded not guilty, but her bail application was denied as the court ruled that she was a flight risk.

Defence counsel George Asamani argued that his client had been unwell and had no intention of evading trial. He assured the court that Nwurueze would attend proceedings if granted bail. However, Chief Inspector Achana opposed the application, stating that she had failed to report to the police after being granted bail earlier and had gone into hiding.

The prosecutor revealed that the case was first reported at the Airport Police Station in 2021, but attempts to arrest her proved futile. It was only after the complainant, Dorothy Asare, petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that she was apprehended. He added that she had rented apartments for short periods, making her difficult to trace, and insisted that if granted bail, she would likely abscond again.

Chief Inspector Achana narrated that Asare met the accused through a mutual friend. Nwurueze presented herself as a successful businesswoman with properties in Accra and claimed to own over 10 containers of goods at the Takoradi port. She allegedly convinced the complainant to give her $5,000, promising to clear the containers and refund the money within three weeks.

To further gain the complainant’s trust, Nwurueze claimed to be in partnership with Devtracco and showed her an ongoing construction project, falsely claiming it was on her property and would generate substantial returns upon completion. Based on these representations, the complainant handed over an additional $8,000.

After three weeks, the complainant demanded her money, but Nwurueze gave excuses and failed to repay the $13,000. Eventually, the complainant lost contact with her and later discovered that the properties and partnerships she claimed to have were non-existent.

Investigations revealed that Nwurueze had no containers at any port and had fabricated all claims to defraud the complainant. The case continues as she remains in custody.