2 Nigerians granted bail in smuggling case

By William Yaw Owusu.

Friday, 31 March 2006
TWO Nigerians who allegedly attempted to smuggle cocoa fungicides worth about ў291 million belonging to the Ghana Cocoa Board out of the country were on Tuesday granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court when they made their second appearance.

This followed an indication by the prosecution to substitute the charge sheet.

Basil Okechukwu and Joseph Eju Abung, were released on ў100 million bail each with two sureties until April 24.

They had pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and stealing.

Chief Inspector Mary Agbozo prosecuting, indicated the prosecution’s intention to substitute the charge sheet on the next adjourned date.

She told the court that on March 17, a police team on night patrol at Achimota intercepted two vehicles conveying 11 maxi fertilizer bags containing the chemicals.

The chemicals labelled “Not for sale” were 23,000 Ridomil and 72 kp fungicides, all products of COCOBOD.

The prosecution said the two men claimed that they bought the chemicals at ў35 million in Kumasi, and were transporting them to their country to do farming.