Lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea has questioned the overnight detention of Manhyia South MP, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). Counsel Atta Akyea argued that his client voluntarily reported to EOCO with his lawyers and should not have been kept in custody after cooperating with investigators.
According to the lawyer, the MP entered the EOCO premises at about 11:00am and remained there for several hours as questioning continued. He explained that although Members of Parliament were available to provide security for bail, EOCO did not consider the option and instead kept the legislator in its cells overnight.
Mr Atta Akyea questioned the basis for the detention because he said officials could not provide a clear explanation when asked about the decision. He argued that the circumstances did not suggest that Mr Awuah posed a flight risk or could interfere with the investigation.
“This is not the rule of law; this is power play” Mr Atta Akyea declared, describing the detention as difficult to reconcile with a lawful investigative process.
The lawyer also challenged the need for detention while questioning is incomplete. He noted that EOCO could have asked the legal team to return with the MP the following day to continue the interrogation, an arrangement he indicated they would have accepted.
Mr Atta Akyea disputed the substance of the allegations, linking them to legal work Honourable Awuah undertook for SIC Life involving Equity Savings and Loans. He explained that the matter involved court proceedings, an entry of judgment, efforts to identify attachable property and eventual settlement between the parties.
The lawyer argued that the settlement was reached with the client’s knowledge and that the MP was subsequently paid for professional services. He therefore questioned how the circumstances could amount to causing financial loss to a public institution or constitute money laundering.
Turning to the broader allegations, Counsel Atta Akyea argued that investigators should have a clearly established case before detaining a person. He questioned whether the overnight detention serves any legitimate investigative purpose at all.
EOCO Searches Awuah’s Office, Atta Akyea Questions Items Seized There
Lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea also questioned items seized during a search of Manhyia South MP Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah’s office by EOCO. He argues that some equipment appears unrelated to the ongoing investigation directly against the MP.
Mr Atta Akyea explained that the search warrant presented to the legal team authorised a search of Mr Awuah’s office. He noted, however, that the warrant did not cover the MP’s residence.
The lawyer’s principal objection concerns the removal of the system controlling the office’s CCTV cameras. He questioned the relevance of equipment containing recent footage to an investigation centred on a legal dispute that has been before the courts for several years.
“The reason why I didn’t follow through with the office search was the fact that it was a whole team of lawyers, and the lawyers know what to question,” Mr Atta Akyea explained. He indicated that he expected investigators to focus on the file connected to the SIC Life and Equity Savings and Loans litigation.
According to the lawyer, Honourable Awuah informed investigators that the relevant brief has been handed over to SIC Life. Mr Atta Akyea therefore suggested that investigators could approach the institution for the documents if the material is central to their inquiry.
The lawyer said he was not personally present throughout the office search because he expected the process to be straightforward. He explained that he initially advised the lawyers at the premises to identify the file being sought and release it if found.
However, Mr Atta Akyea said the search continued for much longer than anticipated before the legal team returned to EOCO. He disclosed that investigators later showed the team the items removed from the office, prompting him to question why the CCTV control system has been taken.
According to Mr Atta Akyea, the questions received no satisfactory response from officials. He argued that if investigators are examining how Honourable Awuah handled the litigation, recently recorded footage showing people entering and leaving the office would have limited relevance.
He also questioned the scope of the investigation where confidential lawyer-client materials are involved. The lawyer stressed that legal offices contain privileged information and argued that investigators should identify material directly connected to the matter under examination.
Mr Atta Akyea further linked the dispute to the underlying litigation involving SIC Life and Equity Savings and Loans. He explained that the case involved years of proceedings before the parties eventually reached terms of settlement, making him question how unrelated office equipment could assist the investigation.
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