The Accra High Court has granted the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) authority to arrest Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. The court also authorised EOCO to search for and seize documents relevant to the inquiry, citing concerns that potentially relevant documents could be concealed, altered or destroyed.
Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem Sai confirmed the issuance of the warrant, stating that the investigation involves allegations of financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering. The warrant was issued after EOCO told the court that its efforts to secure the legislator's voluntary attendance had been unsuccessful. EOCO had invited Mr Baffour Awuah to assist with its investigation in February, but he failed to honour those invitations.
EOCO maintains that it invited Mr Baffour Awuah on two occasions in February to assist with its investigation, but he failed to respond. The Office subsequently attempted to take him into custody at the Accra High Court complex on September 23, an incident that resulted in a confrontation and attracted considerable public attention. EOCO explained that the attempted arrest was a lawful measure to secure the MP's attendance in connection with its investigation.
However, Mr Baffour Awuah has disputed EOCO's account of his cooperation with the investigation. He claims that the February correspondence was directed to him in his former professional capacity as Senior Partner of Sarkodie Baffour Awuah and Partners, a law firm that had represented SIC Life Savings and Loans. He says he referred the matter to the Clerk to Parliament for guidance and that a representative of the law firm subsequently appeared before EOCO on March 4, March 18 and April 30.
The investigation concerns financial dealings involving SIC Life Savings and Loans and the now-defunct Equity Savings and Loans. Mr Baffour Awuah has previously explained that SIC Life had invested approximately GH¢3.5 million with Equity Savings and Loans, which increased to about GH¢14 million after the accumulation of interest. His former law firm was engaged to assist SIC Life in recovering the funds.
There have been reports of an alleged 15 percent legal fee arrangement and purported payments associated with the former management of SIC Life, but these remain allegations under investigation and have not been established by a court. The September 23 attempted arrest generated debate about the manner in which EOCO sought to secure the MP's attendance, with Mr Baffour Awuah claiming that the officials did not provide sufficient identification or an arrest warrant.
The latest court order provides EOCO with judicial authority to proceed with the arrest and to undertake searches and seizures connected to the investigation. The order follows the agency's application to the High Court and its assertion that ordinary efforts to obtain the legislator's attendance had been exhausted. KEY_POINT: The High Court has authorised EOCO to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah over alleged financial irregularities at SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited. KEY_POINT: The investigation involves allegations of financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering. KEY_POINT: The court also authorised EOCO to search for and seize documents relevant to the inquiry.
