The Economic and Organised Crime Office’s attempt to secure an arrest warrant for Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has drawn sharp criticism from private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu. Kpebu dismissed EOCO’s claim that it exhausted all reasonable avenues to compel the MP’s voluntary attendance before seeking a court warrant. He questioned the agency’s approach of sending letters to the MP’s law firm rather than following parliamentary protocol.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, September 30, Kpebu said, “Those letters don’t cut mustard. Why would you send a letter to Baffour, his law firm? You know that it’s the MP you are looking for. Send it through Parliament.”
EOCO’s investigation involves alleged unauthorised financial transactions at SIC Life Savings & Loans Company Ltd. The High Court issued the arrest warrant against Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah after EOCO sought judicial approval to compel his presence.
Kpebu pointed to a procedural misstep after the MP informed EOCO that he had forwarded their letter to the Speaker of Parliament. “In the second letter, you see that EOCO acknowledges that Baffour now told them that he has forwarded their letter to the Speaker of Parliament. It didn’t look tidy,” he said.
The lawyer argued EOCO should have dealt directly with Parliament through the Speaker’s office rather than continuing communication with the MP’s legal representatives. He said this approach would have avoided unnecessary controversy and allowed the investigation to proceed within established parliamentary procedures.
“Let’s do something that doesn’t erode the government’s goodwill. Let’s do something that looks professional. Yes, just send a letter, and then the Speaker will make him available to EOCO,” Kpebu added.
The controversy erupted after EOCO’s decision to seek an arrest warrant, which some perceive as heavy-handed, especially given the MP’s position and parliamentary immunity protocols. Arresting a sitting MP at a social event, as EOCO reportedly considered, risks public backlash and might undermine trust in government institutions, Kpebu warned.
EOCO’s investigation into SIC Life Savings & Loans involves allegations of unauthorised financial transactions, but details of the transactions remain undisclosed. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has not publicly responded to the arrest warrant or the allegations.
The case has drawn attention to the procedures EOCO follows when investigating public officials. Critics argue that the agency’s methods must respect parliamentary processes to maintain public confidence and avoid political tensions.
EOCO’s next steps remain unclear. Whether the agency will shift its communication to Parliament or proceed with the arrest warrant remains to be seen. The unfolding legal contest could test the boundaries between law enforcement and legislative privilege.
According to Joy Online.
