ACCRA — A 55-year-old Nigerian national, Aremu Timothy Adegboyega, has been convicted by an Accra Circuit Court for smuggling over $100,000 worth of counterfeit CFA francs into Ghana. Following his sentencing, authorities have ordered his deportation to Nigeria.
Adegboyega, who initially pleaded not guilty, later changed his plea and confessed to knowingly transporting the forged currency from Togo into Ghana. He was arrested at the Aflao border while riding as a passenger on a motorcycle, carrying suspicious bundles of cash.
Upon investigation, Adegboyega revealed the counterfeit money had been handed to him by a Nigerian associate, allegedly acting on behalf of a mafia figure based in Côte d’Ivoire. Prosecutors charged him with possession of forged currency and illegal entry into the country.
The court imposed fines and outlined a possible custodial sentence, with Ghanaian security officials warning that such crimes pose a serious threat to national security. Authorities say the case underscores the government’s zero-tolerance approach to cross-border financial crimes.
Adegboyega’s conviction comes amid growing regional concerns about organized criminal networks operating across West Africa.