Nigerian businessman granted GH¢ 500k bail for stealing over GH¢490,600

A Nigerian businessman, Desmond Theke, has been dragged before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly stealing GH¢490,600 from his employer, Solomon Okechukwu, a trader in secondhand clothing.

Theke, who served as a salesperson overseeing Okechukwu’s Accra operations, pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing. He has been granted bail of GH¢500,000 with two sureties—one of whom must justify the amount with property title deeds. He must also deposit his Ghana Card at the court registry and report to the police every two weeks.

According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Emelia Mensah, Okechukwu had entrusted Theke with the sale of goods from two 40-foot containers of secondhand clothes imported in 2024. He also sent additional funds to support purchases for the shop.

However, when Okechukwu visited Ghana on June 11, 2025, for a routine stock check, Theke was allegedly unable to account for the goods or the funds. The matter was reported, leading to Theke’s arrest the same day.

The parties were advised to reconcile their accounts with the help of a third party. A document signed by both parties and their witnesses confirmed a shortfall of GH¢490,600, which has been added to the case file.

While the judge noted that the case cannot be resolved through alternative dispute resolution due to its felony nature, the parties are free to explore an out-of-court settlement.

The prosecution has been ordered to file disclosures and witness statements before the Case Management Conference on August 25, 2025.