The Accra Circuit Court has adjourned the trial of Nigerian national Augustine Okechukwu Maazi, who faces charges linked to an alleged plot to rob banks in Accra’s Labone area. The matter was put off until September 16, 2026, to allow prosecutors to file their disclosures.
Maazi appeared before Accra Circuit Court 8 on Wednesday and has pleaded not guilty to eight counts, including conspiracy to commit robbery. He was earlier refused bail and held in custody until September 2.
Ghana Police arrested him on August 13, saying they had disrupted a planned attack on three banks in Labone: GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank.
According to police, officers received intelligence around 10:45 a.m. that a gang was preparing to strike and moved into the area. They reported spotting suspects in parked vehicles. One vehicle fled when its occupants noticed police; a chase followed and Maazi was arrested while another person escaped. Occupants of a second vehicle allegedly tried to drive off while shooting at officers, leading to a shootout in which two suspects died.
Police said they recovered a Toyota Highlander registered GS-1434-18, a Hyundai Tucson registered GS 7915-17, and a pistol.
GCB Bank has publicly rejected the police version, stating that no robbery or attempted robbery occurred at its Labone branch or on its premises. The bank said its site was never breached and that no staff, customers, funds or property were affected.
Questions have also been raised about the recovered Toyota Highlander. Checks reported by SaharaReporters indicated the registration number GS 1434 18 had earlier been listed by Ghanaian authorities as impounded in 2019.
The Nigerian High Commission in Ghana sought clarification after the arrest and the deaths of the two other men. Destiny Austine Omon, then the mission’s media coordinator, challenged parts of the police narrative. He noted that the location is among Accra’s most secure areas, close to the 37 Military Hospital, the presidency, police headquarters and cantonment. He also questioned whether recovering only a pistol fitted the scale of the operation police described. The president of All Nigerian Communities in Ghana was also reported to have visited police headquarters for explanations.
Despite the conflicting accounts, Ghana Police have maintained that officers stopped a planned attack on the three banks.
The case returns to court on September 16, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to file its disclosures.
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