‘Journalist’ In Court Over Alleged GH¢1.7m Extortion Charge

Court Gavel

The Dansoman Circuit Court has granted bail of GH¢3.8 million to two men. They are charged with attempting to extort money from Dr. Mohammed Sani Abdulai. He is a Programme Director of a public financial project.

The accused are Nigel Cedrick Bailey, 52, and Yahaya Alhassan Galadima, 48. Bailey is a building contractor, while Galadima claims to be an activist. They face two charges: conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion.

Both men pleaded not guilty before Her Honour Halimah. She granted each bail of GH¢1.8 million with three sureties. One surety must provide title deeds equivalent to the bail amount.

The accused must also deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registry. They are required to report to the police every two weeks.

Due to the high financial implications of the case, it has been referred to the Attorney General’s Department for advice. The court will reconvene on May 28, 2025.

Background of the Case

According to prosecutors, Dr. Abdulai hired Bailey in November 2023 for a construction project in Accra. Midway through, Bailey began neglecting his duties. This led Dr. Abdulai to raise concerns with the site foreman.

Bailey allegedly abandoned the project and recruited Galadima for extortion purposes. Galadima posed as a journalist and threatened Dr. Abdulai's reputation if he did not pay GH¢1.7 million.

He sent two letters demanding payment under “Ghana Eye” letterhead. After unsuccessful attempts at legal resolution, Dr. Abdulai reported the matter to police.

On February 5, 2025, Dr. Abdulai arranged a meeting at Lancaster Hotel for payment discussions. Police arrested both suspects during this meeting, leading to their prosecution.