law
File photo: Gavel

An Accra High court will on Tuesday, June, 9, 2020 deliver its judgment on alleged forgery case brought against Ali Adam Yourda Enterprise and two others by Master Stone Thrower Mining Limited (2nd Plaintiff) and one Yusiff Alhassan  (1st plaintiff) .

The case involved the alleged “illegal importation of sodium cyanide with container number: TEMU5215809” with Alhaji Umar of Avenor, Ali Adam Yourda and Ali Adam Enterprise as defendants.    

In the writ issued on 22nd April, 2020, the second plaintiff avered that it is a registered liability company incorporated  under the laws of Ghana  to engage in the business  of supply  of Mining equipment and explosives and related activities including  the  importation  of sodium cyanide  and that the three defendants forged documents  to  enable them import the restricted product from the plaintiff’s traditional suppliers .

Interestingly, the defendants have not filed their defense since the case was brought against them two months ago, paving way for a default judgment. 

“Plaintiff  avers that in or about 2nd March , 2019, the 1st plaintiff received a call from the shipping line at Tema Harbour  that a tonne of sodium cyanide had arrived in its name and invited the 1st  plaintiff  to take steps  to clear same,”  the writ said. “Plaintiffs aver that the shipping line later hinted plaintiffs that a clearing agent had presented a doctored document in the name of 3rd defendant to clear the same goods.” the writ further   explained.

“Plaintiff avers  that it turn  out from the documents furnished to the plaintiffs by the shipping line  of the product  that defendants had forged  the documentation  to convince  the suppliers  that the management  of 2nd plaintiff’s  Company had changed and the 1st and 2nd defendants duly used their contacts  to complete  for the supply  to be approved,” the court documents said.

According to the plaintiffs, when they confronted the defendants, they admitted to their guilt following the intervention of some senior Muslim clerics. According to court documents, the defendants promised not to repeat or commit the offense again.

However, per court documents, the defendants later committed the same offense again.

“Plaintiffs avers that recently the defendants again used 2nd plantiff’s name and imported this time two containers of sodium cyanide into the country,” the writ said.

“Plaintiff avers   that from his investigations, it was the selfsame defendants who had imported the goods in the name of 2nd plaintiff without its knowledge, consent or approval.

The plaintiffs are, therefore, seeking a declaration that the two containers of sodium cyanide unlawfully imported into Ghana in the name of 2nd plaintiff belongs to 2nd plaintiff.

It is also seeking an order restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, agents or whatsoever from claiming the sodium cyanide duly cleared by the plaintiff.

It further sought a declaration that that the purchase and import of sodium cyanide by defendants into Ghana is illegal

It also prayed the court to award punitive costs, including payment of plaintiff’s solicitor’s fees against the defendants.

As at press time yesterday, a formal complaint had already been lodged against the defendants at the Serious Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Police Headquarters in Accra for criminal action to be taken.