Agradaa ranting outside the courtroom
Fetish Priestess turned pastor, Patricia Oduro Asieduaa, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, was yesterday remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding some members of the public by deceiving them she could double any amount of money they gave her.
Nana Agradaa was hauled before the court on seven counts, including charlatanic advertisement in newspapers contrary to Section 137(1) of Act 29 and defrauding by false pretences in contravention of Section 131(1) of the same Act.
The accused, according to court documents, through an advertisement on her Today TV channel and other social media platforms, urged her victims to give out any amount of money which she will in return double for them.
The documents further reveal that the 40-year-old self-styled evangelist in the adverts invited members of the public to attend an all-night service at her church – Heaven Way Champion International Ministry located at Weija, for the alleged money doubling.
The six complainants in the instant case as well as over one thousand other persons, according to the prosecuting documents, came from far and near and attended the all-night service and gave out various sums of money as requested by Nana Agradaa for doubling, but she failed to deliver on her promise.
“Further investigations had it that accused undertook the charlatanic advertisement and subsequent money collections with other persons for the purported money doubling. Thus, efforts are underway to identify, and arrest such persons to assist investigation,” the prosecution’s brief facts added.
Nana Agradaa, per court documents, admitted the allegations made against her by the complainants during her interrogation following her arrest.
Court Proceedings
Nana Agradaa pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, and her counsel, Reindolf Twumasi, pleaded with the court to grant her bail pending the trial, assuring it that she has a fixed place of abode and credible people who are willing to stand as sureties for her.
He said the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution, irrespective of the public interest the case has generated, adding that the accused never directly demanded the money from the complainants. He said the total sum involved in the case is GH¢2,680 per the prosecution’s own documents.
The application was opposed by ASP Maxwell Oppong, who denied the defence lawyer’s claim that the accused willingly drove to the police station.
He said police had picked intelligence that Nana Agradaa had planned to travel, and they had to man the airport as well as track her phone and block all her hideout.
He said the action taken by the police left the accused with no other choice but to report to the police, which led to her arrest.
ASP Oppong indicated that Nana Agradaa will not appear for the trial if granted bail, adding that in the interest of the public and her own safety, she must be kept from angry church members who may attempt to harm her.
His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, the presiding judge, in his ruling, said Nana Agradaa has a history of money-doubling scheme, and her modus operandi has not changed, and one could not predict what she will bring next.
He, therefore, refused the application for bail and remanded her to reappear on October 13, 2022.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak