Accra, March 19, – An Accra High Court has sentenced Alhaji Fareed Amin Yakubu, a 38-year-old businessman, to 10 years’ imprisonment in absentia for fraud-related offences.
In addition, the court imposed a GH¢12,000 fine for issuing false cheques, with a default sentence of two years. The custodial and default sentences are to run concurrently.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Bright Samuel Acquah.
Yakubu had pleaded not guilty to charges of defrauding by false pretences and two counts of issuing false cheques, but failed to appear in court after being granted bail. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.
After two years of unsuccessful attempts to locate him, the prosecution applied for the case to proceed in his absence. The court granted the request in line with Article 19(3)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which permits such trials under specific conditions.
At the conclusion of proceedings, the court found him guilty on all counts.
According to the prosecution, Yakubu collected GH¢3 million from Madam Darling Tuffour in April 2021 under the pretext of investing in an oil venture, with a promise to repay the amount.
On May 18, 2021, he issued a cheque for GH¢2,100,000 drawn on Stanbic Bank, which was later dishonoured due to insufficient funds. A second cheque for GH¢1,050,000, issued on September 24, 2021, and drawn on First Atlantic Bank, was also dishonoured.
The complainant, a businesswoman based in East Legon, reported the matter to the Police after efforts to trace Yakubu proved unsuccessful, as he had vacated his office and could not be located.
Prosecution said Yakubu later turned himself in after his details were circulated in the media.
GHBUSS
19 March 2026
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