Businessman remanded over illegal firearm possession

A district court in Adabraka has remanded a 45-year-old businessman into police custody over allegations that he kept firearms and ammunition without legal authority.

Alhassan Illiyasu, also known as “Arab Man”, is facing three counts of possession of firearms and ammunition without authority.

The court did not take his plea, granting a request from prosecutors who said investigators needed more time to complete their enquiries. He is due to appear again on 9 March 2026.

Prosecutors told the court that police recovered a number of weapons and other items from his residence at Roman Down in Ashaiman.

They include two foreign-made pump-action shotguns, an AK-47 rifle, and several boxes of cartridges. Investigators also reported finding bulletproof vests, a face mask, cutlasses, mobile phones and a CCTV monitor.

According to the prosecution, the Office of the Special Operations unit, which supports the Inspector-General of Police, received information on 7 January 2026 suggesting Mr Illiyasu was being sought in connection with a robbery case involving the Adabraka Gold Shop.

Police were also told he had recently been seen in the Ashaiman area after returning from a construction site with a sack suspected to contain weapons.

A team, working with the Ashaiman District Police Command, moved in and arrested him, the court heard.

Prosecutors said a search of his room led to the discovery of two pump-action guns and ammunition, including BB cartridges and AK-47 rounds, allegedly hidden inside a bag.

During questioning, Mr Illiyasu was unable to account for how he obtained the items, prosecutors said.

He is, however, reported to have told investigators that although the items were found in his possession, he had not used them for any unlawful purpose.