Okada rider jailed eight years for phone robbery
Issah Sadat, popularly known as an okada rider, was jailed by the Amasaman Circuit Court after admitting that he conspired with two others to rob a man of his mobile phone.
A 23-year-old commercial motorbike rider has been sentenced to eight years in prison with hard labour for robbery.
Issah Sadat, popularly known as an okada rider, was jailed by the Amasaman Circuit Court after admitting that he conspired with two others to rob a man of his mobile phone.
His alleged accomplices were named as Koboah Nkotein, who is now dead, and Kojo, who is at large.
The court, presided over by Ms Susanna Nyakotey, had earlier convicted Sadat on his own plea but deferred sentencing to May 12, 2026.
Before passing sentence, the court asked Sadat about his background.
He told the court he had dropped out of school and worked as an auto mechanic and commercial motorbike rider.
The prosecution then informed the court that Sadat owned a motorbike which had been seized by police.
Asked whether he had anything to say before sentencing, Sadat pleaded for mercy, saying he was married with children.
The court said it took into account his age and the fact that he had not wasted the court’s time before sentencing him.
It also ordered that the seized motorbike be released to any family member who later appears to claim it.
Prosecutors said the robbery happened at about 3:40am on April 19, 2026, near the Oduman M/A School area.
The victim, Burhanudeen Suleiman, an okada rider, was returning from a construction site with a witness, Saddick Hamidu, when they were attacked.
The court heard that Sadat and his alleged accomplices were riding a black Royal motorbike with registration number M-23-GR 531.
They allegedly robbed Suleiman of his G-Mobile phone.
The victim raised an alarm, attracting people in the community.
Sadat and Nkotein were arrested at the scene, while the third suspect, Kojo, escaped.
Police said one suspect was found sitting on the ground while the other was lying unconscious in a nearby gutter.
The complainant, Samuel Arhinful Addo, later alerted the Amasaman Patrol Team, which went to the scene and rescued the suspects from an angry crowd.
A search led to the recovery of a long knife hanging around the engine of Sadat’s motorbike.
The victim’s phone was also retrieved.
Police retained the knife, the phone and the motorbike as exhibits.
Sadat and Nkotein were taken to the Police Hospital for treatment.
Sadat was treated and discharged, but Nkotein was pronounced dead by a medical officer.
The prosecution said police later took Sadat to Agbogbloshie Konkonba on April 21 to help arrest the owner of the motorbike used in the robbery, but the person was not found.
A message was left for him to report to the Amasaman Police Station to assist investigations.
Police say efforts are continuing to arrest Kojo, who remains at large.
