A man who allegedly impersonated a military officer and scammed a lawyer out of GH₵192,000 in a fake land protection deal has been arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court.
The accused, Mahama Saani Razak, also known as Major Zack Gariba Tanko, is said to have claimed he was a serving Major in the Ghana Armed Forces. He allegedly promised to deploy military personnel to guard the lawyer’s land at Kwabenya, supposedly to ward off landguards.
Razak and his wife, Hudu Fatimata Neina, have both been charged — he with defrauding by false pretence, and the couple jointly with conspiracy to commit a crime. They have pleaded not guilty.
Bail and Court Proceedings
Presiding Judge Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah granted the accused persons bail of GH₵300,000 each, with two sureties secured by movable property. The prosecution has been ordered to file all disclosures and witness statements by July 30, 2025. The next court hearing is scheduled for August 8, 2025.
The Alleged Scam
According to Chief Inspector Ebenezer Teye Okuffo, the complainant — a North Legon-based lawyer — was introduced to Razak in March 2025 by a mutual friend who claimed Razak was a member of the military.
Razak allegedly took the complainant to Burma Camp, posing as a Military Police officer. He offered to arrange for junior military personnel to secure the lawyer’s land.
Believing Razak’s claims, the lawyer transferred GH₵192,000 via mobile money to phone numbers registered to Razak’s wife and two others: Abdul-Aziz Alhassan and Isaaka Dogoma.
Despite repeated assurances, no security detail was ever provided, and Razak reportedly disappeared afterward. Suspicious, the lawyer contacted the Ghana Armed Forces, who confirmed that Razak had no affiliation with the military, prompting a police complaint.
Denials and Admissions
During interrogation, Razak denied all allegations. His wife, however, admitted to receiving and withdrawing the money, claiming she simply handed it over to her husband.
The case highlights growing concerns about impersonation scams and land-related fraud in the country.
