Dawood aided Nayele to use the VVIP lounge – Lawyer confirms


Embattled businessman Alhaji Mohammed Dawood indeed aided Nayele Ametefeh’s easy passage through the Presidential Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), his lawyer, Addo Atuah has confirmed.

He also confirmed to Joy FM’s Top Story Thursday that Alhaji Dawood prior to assisting the alleged drug baroness Nayele Ametefeh through the VVIP lounge, Alhaji Dawood had only known her for three weeks.

Miss Ametefe is in UK custody after she was arrested at Heathrow International Airport carrying 12.5 kilograms of cocaine in November.

Alhaji Dawood appeared before an Accra Circuit Court Thursday but the case was adjourned to December 8 to enable the prosecution complete its investigation.

Addo Atuah stated that although his client facilitated the VVIP access for Miss Ametefe, he was not aware that she was trafficking cocaine.

There is “nothing to connect” his client to the scandal because according to media reports, he asserted, the content which turned out to be cocaine was handed over to Nayele on board the flight.

“He has not denied the fact he knows Nayele. Nayele was traveling and he just suggested that, oh why don’t you go through the VVIP lounge? Every man would want to let a female friend realize that he has some connection in one way or the other. But to what extent? I think that by itself does not incriminate him.”

He reiterated that Alhaji Dawood met Nayele about three weeks ago at a shop and might have been charmed by her into an acquaintance.

He was however not in a position to tell if the two upgraded their relationship to a romantic one.

He maintained, “Yes he [Dawood] knows Nayele and according to my instructions, he only knew Nayele for about two to three weeks, and not more. Well, they met in a shop according to my instructions.

“She is a pretty lady, so he approached her and they interacted and they started exchanging addresses, and then they became friends, I should say acquainted…I wouldn’t say that she has any interest in it [him], I cannot confirm. But I am only saying that they became acquainted. I cannot confirm whether they had any amorous relationship.”

He is confident his client would walk away a free man because the prosecution has "no evidence against him", insisting the “charges against him are speculative.”

Listen to Addo Atuah below:

Sharing his thoughts on Dawood’s counsel’s confirmation, lawyer Kissi Adjabeng from the University of Ghana Law Faculty, told Top Story that prosecution would have to establish a statement of knowledge beyond reasonable doubt that Dawood knew that Nayele was trafficking drugs.

Aiding her through the VVIP lounge in itself is not a criminal offense, per the case at stake.

Lawyer Adjabeng expressed his strong displeasure about Ghana’s criminal procedure and questioned why suspects would be kept in custody when prosecution has no evidence yet.


Ghana | Myjoyonline.com| Isaac Essel | isaac.essel@myjoyonline.com | twitter @isaacessel

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