Nigerian man arraigned over bank robbery

On September 2, 2026, Augustine Maazi, a Nigerian man, made his appearance in Accra Circuit Court 8 in Ghana, as part of proceedings related to his alleged involvement in a planned robbery targeting three banks in the Labone area of Accra. Maazi, who had been previously denied bail and remanded in police custody, faced eight counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the Ghana Police Service, Maazi was arrested on August 13 after their intelligence indicated a gang was preparing to attack the banks, specifically GCB Bank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank. Officers deployed personnel to the area upon receiving the intelligence. As the gang was spotted in vehicles parked near the banks, a chase ensued, resulting in Maazi's arrest.

However, another member of the gang managed to escape. During the pursuit, two suspects were killed, and two vehicles, a Toyota Highlander and a Hyundai Tucson, along with a pistol, were recovered from the suspects. GCB Bank, however, denied that their Labone branch was targeted, asserting that their branch was never breached, and that no customers, staff members, funds, or property were affected.