Cross-Border Cash Scheme Involving Nigerian Unravels in Ghana

A Nigerian national, Aremu Adegboyega, has been convicted on Monday, June 30, 2025, by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for smuggling counterfeit West African CFA francs worth over $100,000 into the country.

Local reports say the 55-year-old was caught entering Ghana illegally through an unauthorized route at the Ghana-Togo border and is now set to be deported back to Nigeria, according to Ghanaian authorities.

Justice Christiana Cann, who presided over the matter, issued an order for Adegboyega’s immediate deportation to Nigeria following his sentencing.

The Ghana Immigration Service has been tasked with carrying out the deportation.

Adegboyega’s arrest took place in 2023 at the Aflao border, a busy crossing point between Ghana and Togo.

According to a report by Ghanaian newspaper The Chronicle, he was intercepted by customs officers while riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle.

His suspicious behaviour prompted a search, during which law enforcement officials uncovered bundles of counterfeit currency in his backpack.

The fake currency included CFA francs totalling over CFA 80.6 million (approximately $100,000) and a smaller sum of Nigerian naira amounting to ₦101,500.

The CFA franc is a currency used in several West African countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

Investigations by the Ghanaian police revealed that Adegboyega smuggled the fake currency into Ghana from neighbouring Togo.

During interrogation, he reportedly admitted in a caution statement that he was fully aware the money was counterfeit.

He disclosed that he received the forged notes from a man named Alhaji Saibu in Nigeria.

Saibu, according to Adegboyega, was acting on the orders of a more elusive figure, an alleged underworld operator known as Alhaji Dials, said to be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

He was charged with two counts of possessing forged currency under Ghana’s Currency Act of 1964 and one count of illegal entry.

For the possession of counterfeit money, the court imposed a fine of 250 penalty units.

This translates to approximately GH¢3,000 (around ₦300,000). Should he fail to pay the fine, he faces up to two years in prison with hard labour.

Additionally, for illegally entering Ghana, he was handed another fine of 120 penalty units (GH¢1,440 or about ₦144,000), with an accompanying prison sentence of two years if unpaid.

However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning that if Adegboyega defaults on both fines, he will serve a maximum of two years behind bars.

The ruling also included an immediate deportation order, reinforcing Ghana’s zero-tolerance stance on cross-border financial crime and illegal immigration.

The incident has raised concerns about the rise in transnational financial fraud involving West African nationals.

This case comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigerian citizens involved in similar cross-border crimes.

Another Nigerian, Abu Arome, is currently facing trial in Ghana alongside three Ghanaian nationals.

They are accused of conspiracy and fraud involving forged documents, fake signatures, and fraudulent financial claims.

Nigeria’s Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, recently confirmed in a statement that the accused individuals in that case are being prosecuted for defrauding unsuspecting victims using sophisticated forgery techniques.

Back home, the developments have sparked conversations around the need for tighter border security and stronger collaboration between West African nations to tackle organised crime.

Experts say this case reflects a growing trend of criminal networks that stretch across Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, making regional cooperation essential in combating financial fraud.

While Adegboyega’s arrest and conviction underscore Ghana’s firm approach to law enforcement, it also places a spotlight on the involvement of Nigerians in cross-border scams.

This is a reputation that continues to generate concern and calls for reform within Nigeria’s law enforcement and justice systems.

As Adegboyega awaits deportation, the message from Ghana is clear: West African countries are stepping up their efforts to crack down on illicit financial activity.

Also, those who exploit regional borders for criminal gain will be held accountable.

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