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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Ghana court remands man over plot to rob three banks

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A suspect, Okechukwu Augustine, has been remanded in Ghana over an alleged foiled plot to rob three banks in Accra.
  • Police claim they foiled the attack after receiving intelligence, arresting one suspect and killing two others in a shootout.
  • GCB Bank has denied that its Labone branch was targeted, stating no robbery incident occurred at its premises, contradicting the police account.

A suspect identified as Okechukwu Augustine is facing charges in Ghana after an alleged plot to rob three banks in Accra's Labone area was reportedly foiled by police. Augustine was remanded by a Circuit Court and is scheduled to reappear before the court this Wednesday. The arrest followed an operation last Thursday where the Ghana Police Service stated it intercepted a planned attack on branches of GCB Bank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank.

Today, the Ghana Police Service arrested one suspect of a robbery syndicate and gunned down two others for planned robbery attempts on some banks in Labone, Accra.

— Ghana Police ServiceThe police statement detailing their account of the foiled robbery attempt.

According to a statement released by the Ghana Police Service on X, authorities received intelligence around 10:45 a.m. on August 13, indicating a gang was preparing to attack the banks. A police team was dispatched, allegedly spotting the suspects in two vehicles near the banks. The police reported that one vehicle sped off, leading to a chase and the arrest of Augustine. Occupants of the second vehicle reportedly engaged police in a shootout, resulting in the deaths of two suspects.

However, the police narrative has been challenged by GCB Bank. In a statement shared on X shortly after the police announcement, the bank explicitly denied that its Labone branch was the target of any robbery or attempted robbery. GCB Bank clarified that its branch was not breached, and no customers, staff, funds, or property were affected, asserting that the branch remains secure.

GCB Bank wishes to clarify that no robbery or attempted robbery took place at our Labone Branch or on the Bank’s premises.

— GCB BankGCB Bank's official statement contradicting the police report.

The police recovered two vehicles and a blow pistol during the operation. Augustine is reportedly assisting with the investigation, while the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the morgue. The conflicting accounts between the police and GCB Bank raise questions about the details of the incident.

At no point was the branch breached, and no customer, member of staff, funds or property of the Bank was affected.

— GCB BankGCB Bank further clarified the security status of its branch.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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