A Nigerian spiritualist, on Wednesday appeared before a circuit court in Accra for allegedly collecting GH¢45,000 and USD5, 600 from five spare part dealers at Abossey Okai in the city.
Abel Ade, who is also a herbalist, took the money under the pretext of assisting the dealers with spiritual to arrest an expatriate who had duped them.
The suspect, charged with defrauding by false pretences and assault, pleaded not guilty and will reappear at court on July 13.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Ankomah, admitted Ade to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties one to be justified.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mary Agbozo told the court that about eight months ago, the complainant, Mr Bright Baidoo, and four others were introduced to Ade as someone who could assist them to arrest an expatriate who had duped them and gone into hiding.
She said the accused collected various sums of money to the tune of GH¢45,000 and USD5,600 but failed to deliver on his promise and went into hiding in Togo.
ASP Agbozo said luck, however, ran out on Ade, on May 28, this year when he was spotted at Dansoman in Accra by one of his victims who trailed him and had him arrested at a Police check point.
She said during Police interrogation, Ade admitted collecting GH¢50 and not GH¢45,000 from the complainants.
Prosecution said on June 4, when Ade was being interrogated, he suddenly punched one of his victims on the left eyebrow.