Justice Clement Honyenuga, the High Court judge hearing the case involving former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has put the case on hold.
This follows a disagreement between lawyers of Dr Opuni and Deputy Attorney General Godfred Dame regarding a request made by the ex-CEO’s lawyers that they be furnished with documents the state intends relying on in prosecuting the case.
The trial judge, after hearing the arguments from both sides, decided to adjourn the case pending the determination of a similar motion filed in the case involving ex-NCA officials and the state.
In that case, the former Board Chair of the NCA, Baffoe Bonnie, and ex-Director General William Tevie, are also demanding the state to make available documents it intends to use in the prosecution.
Class 91.3FM’s Joshua Kojo Mensah, who was in court on Wednesday, 11 April, reported that: “The judge said since there is a similar case in the determination of Article 19 (2) (e) and (g) at the Supreme Court, he will be undermining the Supreme Court if he gives a judgement for or against the motion, and, so, he is waiting for the determination of the NCA case and the decision taken there will be binding on this particular one.”
Dr Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, are facing 27 charges of willfully causing financial loss of GHS217million to the state, through three separate fertiliser supply contracts between 2014 and 2016.
The contracts were GHS43.1million (2013/2014 cocoa farming season), GHS75.3million (2014/2015 cocoa farming season) and GHS98.9million (2015/2016 cocoa farming season) totalling GHS217million through sole-sourcing, the state claimed, adding that procurement procedures for sole-sourcing were not followed.
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Source: classfmonline.com
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I am rather concerned about what the Deputy minister said. It will fuel the perception of witch hunting. This is a criminal prosecution not a civil one so full information should be provided to the defense. You cannot be convicted of a criminal offence which has a high threshold and denial of liberty if convicted without knowing the full facts of your accusation. If the state is not careful, their case will fall flat. The defense know exactly what they are doing. Just research who Samuel Cudjoe works with. How can the Deputy Attorney General claim that this is a summary trial so full information so those documents need not be provided to the defense? Then do not include them as evidence. Is they are not careful, Samuel Cudjoe will mop them on the floor. They should know better. Summary trial or indictment, IT IS A CRIMINAL TRIAL. Please refer again to constitutional law. I do not see a judge who will allow this because that judges reputation will be on the line.
This case was dead on arrival. It will not end anywhere. That use1ess Attorney general and his deputy Godfred Odame are just wasting our time. This 1diot Odame said he would make sure Wayome pays back the 59 million GH cedis. But we are yet to see any results. Foo1i5h Attorney generals.
Nana kwasi learn how to think , or keep quite for the wise ones to talk
release the documents to his lawyers if you have facts to support your case and get ready for a show down in court too you are running away. please A-G get serious
Your head is screwed up. What do mean by they are delaying? Who in his right mind would have previllege to free himself from a bogus accusation and sit idle to be jailed for political point. All you people know is "We Will jail them", without considering the fact that the law will be applied accordingly. Most of you illiterate think, when someone is went to court then it means he will be jailed. Gimifo.
MR JUDGE DON'T YOU KNOW THEY ARE DELAYING THE CASE?WE WANT ACTION NOW.