A man accused of robbing the wife of the late Vice President, Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has been denied bail by the Accra High Court. Yahuza Osman, the alleged robber, will remain in custody until his next court appearance on May 21.
The presiding judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, expressed concerns that Osman might flee if he were granted bail. She highlighted the serious nature of the accusations against him, leading to the decision to keep him in custody.
Osman’s counsel, Paul Asibi Abariga, reassured the court that his client had no intention of evading trial and would cooperate fully. However, Senior State Attorney Amanda Awadey argued against granting bail, stating that Osman posed a flight risk.
Osman is facing charges of robbery and money laundering, including the robbery of Matilda Amissah-Arthur and the theft of cash and valuables from her residence. The prosecution also alleges that Osman carried out multiple robberies in affluent neighborhoods, stealing items worth millions of Ghana cedis.
Luxury cars and apartments allegedly purchased with proceeds from the crimes were listed by the prosecution, including a Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Prado, and Lexus. Osman has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in prison custody awaiting further proceedings.
The case has drawn public attention as CCTV footage and testimonies have helped link Osman to various robberies in the region. The prosecution is pursuing 26 counts of robbery and money laundering against him, with a scheduled reappearance in court on May 2.
The police CID received numerous complaints of residential robberies committed by a single armed man in areas such as Airport, Cantonments, Tesano, and Ridge in Accra. Osman’s alleged criminal activities have sparked concern and raised awareness about the need for improved security measures in the affected communities.
