Accra, January 9, 2018//-Attorney General Gloria Akuffo has prayed an Accra High Court to expeditiously hear the case involving former Director-General of National Communication Authority (NCA) William Mathew Tevie and four others, who have been charged with causing financial loss to the state.
She clashed in court with lawyers for the five as she urged the court to allow sittings on each day of the week.
While some of the lawyers for the five had raised medical concerns as a reason for their inability to agree with this push by the AG, others claimed they had commitments in various courts.
Facts
Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, former Board Chairman of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw, former Board member; William Tevie, former Chief Executive Officer of the NCA; Alhaji Osman, former Deputy National Security Coordinator, the State believes were aided by a private citizen, George Oppong to engage in the act.
According to the State, the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.
A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.
The State said National Security didn’t have the money to fund the transaction, therefore, the NCA which has supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment was asked to fund the project.
The officials withdrew $4 million from the accounts of the NCA and paid $1 million into the accounts of the Israeli company.
According to the State, the remaining $3 million was lodged in the accounts of George Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd. The entire deal was fronted by Alhaji Osman, the Minister claimed.
Legal Representation
The Seven member legal team of the state is led by Gloria Akuffo (AG) and Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa (Director of Public Prosecution).
The accused persons were represented by Abu Juan holding brief for Thaddeus Sore representing Eugene Baffuor Bonnie (Fmr Chair);
Agbesi Kwadzo Dzakpasu for William Mathew Tetteh Tevie (Fmr CEO,NCA); Samuel Cudjoe for Nana Owusu Ensaw and Kojo Yankson for Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman (Fmr Deputy National security coordinator).
Osafo Buabeng represented George Derek Oppong.
Court’s order
Presiding Judge Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor settled on every Tuesday and Thursday starting January 16 for trial.
The state is expected to present its first witness on the day.
A-G, Gloria Akuffo told pressmen her office only heads to court once they are satisfied with investigations carried out by relevant bodies, dismissing suggestions they could have waited for the Special Prosecutor to commence prosecution.
Myjoyonline
