Jessica Oforiwa, a 35-year-old caterer and hairdresser, has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing GH₵81,060 from GCB Bank customers through the use of cloned cheques. Oforiwa, convicted on seven counts including abetment of crime and stealing, will serve her sentences concurrently.
Her accomplices—Dawda Sawdido, Mohammed Muktar, Fuseini Saeed Ibrahim, Felix Mensah, Lawrence Quarshie, and Philip Ansah—remain at large.
Details of the Crime
- Between January and August 2022, eight cheques were cloned and used to withdraw GH₵81,060 from GCB Bank accounts.
- Victims included:
- Rejoice Emekor Senezah: Lost GH₵12,000 (January 10, 2022)
- Felcon Electrical Enterprise: Lost GH₵47,460 (April 13, 2022)
Investigations revealed that the fraudulent withdrawals were facilitated through Jesnat Cook Company, Oforiwa’s registered business. The group erased legitimate account details and signatures on cheques using chemical methods, making the altered documents appear genuine.
Key Withdrawals by Accomplices
- Dawda Sawdido: GH₵4,700
- Mohammed Muktar: GH₵9,700 (two withdrawals)
- Fuseini Saeed Ibrahim: GH₵5,000
- Felix Mensah: GH₵47,460
On August 1, 2022, accomplices Philip Ansah and Livingston Ankomah used cloned cheques to withdraw GH₵4,700 from GCB Bank’s Kaneshie branch and attempted to withdraw an additional GH₵3,000 at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle branch. Their suspicious behavior led to Ankomah’s arrest and confession.
Arrest and Sentencing
- Oforiwa was arrested on December 24, 2022, by the Kwahu Nkwatia Police. She admitted to using the cheques to misappropriate the funds and implicated her boyfriend, Samuel Gyane Nyanteh, as a possible accomplice.
- During sentencing, the court considered her status as a first-time offender and mother of two but stressed that her actions were premeditated and harmful to public trust in financial institutions.
Prosecution’s Argument
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong urged the court to issue a deterrent sentence, citing the increasing prevalence of such crimes and their impact on the economy.
Court’s Advice
The judge emphasized the need for:
- Strengthening ICT systems within financial institutions.
- Training bank staff, particularly tellers, to thoroughly scrutinize cheques and other financial instruments.
The court underscored that protecting shareholder and depositor interests is critical to maintaining public trust in the banking sector.
