Presided over by her honour, Christiana Cann, the court found Adegboyega guilty of possessing forged currency and illegally entering the country. 

The Circuit Court in Accra has sentenced a 55-year-old Nigerian trader, Aremu Timothy Adegboyega, to prison for smuggling large sums of counterfeit currency into Ghana through an illegal border crossing.

Presided over by her honour, Christiana Cann, the court found Adegboyega guilty of possessing forged currency and illegally entering the country. 

In addition to his sentence, the court ordered his immediate deportation by the Ghana Immigration Service.

Initially pleading not guilty, Adegboyega later changed his plea to guilty midway through the trial.According to the prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Anquandah, the convict was arrested on January 17, 2023, by Customs officials stationed at the Aflao border. 

He was intercepted at "Beat Zero," an unapproved entry point along the Ghana-Togo border, while riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle.

A search of his backpack revealed suspicious bundles of currency — CFA Francs amounting to CFA 80,653,000 and Nigerian Naira totaling ₦101,500 — all suspected to be counterfeit.

During interrogation, Adegboyega confessed to knowing the currency was fake. 

He claimed to have received the forged notes from a Nigerian contact, Alhaji Saibu, acting on behalf of a suspected mafia boss identified as Alhaji Dials, reportedly based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

He was charged with two counts of possessing forged currency under Section 18(2) of the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242), and one count of illegal entry.

The court imposed the following penalties: Possession of Forged Notes (CFA Francs) – A fine of 250 penalty units (equivalent to GH¢3,000).

In default, Timothy Adegboyega will serve two years in prison with hard labour.

"Illegal Entry into Ghana – A fine of 120 penalty units (equivalent to GH¢1,440). In default, he will serve another two-year prison term.

"The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of two years if he defaults on payment.

In addition to the sentencing, the court directed the Ghana Immigration Service to deport Timothy Adegboyega to Nigeria without delay.

The Chronicles reports that authorities have described a recent conviction for smuggling fake currency as a strong warning to individuals attempting to compromise Ghana’s financial and border security systems.

In a separate development, the Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to three individuals charged with drug-related offences. 

The accused – Tei Quarshie, a 24-year-old security guard with G4S Security Services; Gifty Ahiage, a 35-year-old trader; and Comfort Tawiah, a 29-year-old unemployed woman – were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 with two sureties, to be justified by land title documents.

Presiding over the case, Her Honour Mrs. Susana Eduful adjourned proceedings to July 30, 2025.

The trio faces three charges: conspiracy to engage in the narcotics trade, unlawful possession of narcotic drugs, and engaging in illegal narcotics activity.

According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Ebenezer Okuffo Teye, the incident occurred on June 24, 2025. Detective Chief Inspector Prince Wisdom Sotamah of the Nima Divisional CID was investigating an unrelated assault near Maamobi Polyclinic when he spotted Quarshie smoking a substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

Upon searching a multicoloured polythene bag in Quarshie's possession, officers allegedly discovered 60 wraps of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp. 

He was arrested and taken to the Nima Police Station, where he reportedly disclosed that he had obtained the substances from one Gifty Ahiage.