Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Manhyia South MP, will remain in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after spending more than five hours under interrogation on Thursday, October 1. His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, said EOCO had promised to seek approval for bail but had detained the MP overnight.
Atta Akyea told JoyNews’ Collins Frimpong that he was “highly disappointed” EOCO had not granted bail. He said his client voluntarily reported to EOCO following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Accra High Court. The warrant was issued after EOCO said it exhausted efforts to secure the MP’s voluntary attendance amid concerns that documents related to an ongoing investigation might be destroyed or altered.
The investigation involves alleged financial transactions concerning SIC Life Savings and Loans, with EOCO probing criminal conspiracy, financial loss, money laundering, and tax-related offences. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who is also a senior partner at Sarkodie, Baffour Awuah and Partners, has been cooperating with the agency.
Atta Akyea challenged EOCO’s decision to keep the MP in custody, questioning the need for a judge’s involvement in bail proceedings. “I’m hearing some funny stories that tomorrow [Saturday] there will be a sitting judge to consider bail for my client. The question is, what has that got to do with the judge?” he asked.
He argued that EOCO obtained an arrest warrant, not a bench warrant, and that the MP voluntarily surrendered. “That is not a bench warrant. Take him back to the judge, for the judge to determine the fate of the individual. You never went to the court to seek a bench warrant. You wanted an arrest warrant, you wanted to arrest him, then they gave you the arrest warrant, and then my client voluntarily came over to you,” Atta Akyea said.
The lawyer asserted that the MP’s detention was unnecessary. “I believe that the rule of law and common decency should dawn on them that a sitting Member of Parliament is not leaving the room. He’s not running anywhere,” he said.
Atta Akyea also pointed to the political implications of the MP’s continued detention. The Manhyia South constituency was expected to participate in the New Patriotic Party’s national delegates conference in Kumasi. “What is even sad is that the whole of his constituency is waiting for him so that they will vote validly at the NPP’s delegates’ conference in Kumasi. So I don’t understand what is going on,” he added.
The lawyer criticised what he called confusion between an arrest warrant and a bench warrant. “But for anybody to confuse what a bench warrant is with an arrest warrant is a whole mischief,” he said. He plans to challenge the MP’s detention when the matter comes before the court. “I’m going to plead with the judge that, look, what is going on is an aberration and an affront to justice, and he should be admitted to jail,” Atta Akyea said.
EOCO announced on Friday, October 2, that it was working with the Office of the Attorney-General to bring Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah before a weekend court, citing constitutional timeframes and procedural requirements around bail. The agency confirmed the MP voluntarily surrendered at about 10 a.m. on Thursday and was cooperating with investigators.
EOCO also denied reports claiming it had granted the MP GH¢50 million bail and urged the public to disregard such information.
The arrest warrant came after EOCO expressed concern that relevant documents might be concealed or destroyed. The ongoing inquiry concerns alleged irregularities involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has remained in EOCO custody as the agency prepares to present him before the court over the weekend.
According to Joy Online.
