The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has been formally charged by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) with offences including money laundering and causing financial loss to the state, his lawyer has confirmed.
Counsel for the MP, Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, disclosed to journalists on Thursday, October 1, that EOCO had formally presented the charges against his client following investigations into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
“Yes indeed. I’m talking about loss of public funds and also causing loss and then money laundering,” Mr. Atta Akyea said.
Lawyer Rejects Charges, Says Transaction Was Legitimate Legal Work
However, Mr. Atta Akyea strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that his client’s involvement was purely professional legal service rendered to SIC Life Savings and Loans.
“Nothing that they’ve said calls for such a charge. A lawyer has delivered a service. There is a paper trail to that effect. Documents filed in the court of competent jurisdiction. How can you say that is criminality? I can’t get it,” he argued.
According to the lawyer, SIC Life Savings and Loans engaged his client’s law firm to recover an investment it had made with Equity Savings and Loans, a matter that went through the full court process.
“It is legitimate in the sense that a judgment was handed down, and it’s legitimate because an entry of judgment was filed. It is legitimate because they attached the property belonging to the Equity Savings and Loans,” he explained.
He maintained that the documentary trail clearly shows that the law firm acted on the instructions of its client, questioning how such an action could amount to criminality.
“So the paper trail is conclusive that the lawyer was working on the case, and how can you say somebody has been shortchanged?” he quizzed.
Mr. Atta Akyea also disputed the figures being bandied around in relation to the said investment. According to him, the entry of judgment showed an amount of about GH¢10 million, being the principal plus interest, and not GH¢14 million as speculated.
“In fact, the entry of judgment does not show that it’s 14 million. It’s 10 million, which is the investment plus the interest,” he clarified.
He further questioned the mandate of EOCO in handling the matter, suggesting the case falls outside the remit of the anti-crime body.
“So if you look at it from every perspective, this is not a remit of EOCO, I’m afraid,” he stated.
Background
EOCO has said its investigation concerns alleged unauthorised financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans, with suspected financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering among the alleged offences. The allegations have not yet been determined by a court.
Mr. Baffour Awuah reported himself to EOCO on Thursday after the Accra High Court issued a warrant authorising his arrest and the search and seizure of documents relevant to the investigation.
He was subsequently placed under arrest and is said to be cooperating with investigators, according to EOCO.
Oseikromfm.com will bring you more updates on this developing story.
