Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has questioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) decision to seek a search of the residence of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, arguing that the court order obtained by the agency was specific to his law firm.
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, EOCO informed the detained MP after 2pm on Friday, October 2, that investigators intended to search his residence.
He said Mr Baffour Awuah questioned the move because, in his understanding, the warrant authorised a search of his office and law firm rather than his home. Mr Afenyo-Markin’s account was reported by MyJoyOnline.
The Minority Leader said the court had also directed that the order be served on the Speaker of Parliament, who would communicate the matter to the MP through Parliament’s internal procedures.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further recounted the circumstances surrounding Baffour Awuah’s appearance at EOCO on Thursday, October 1. He said the MP arrived at about 10:47am with his lawyers and some parliamentary colleagues and initially expected to be attended to within 15 minutes.
According to him, however, the MP waited several hours before investigators began questioning him.
He said Baffour Awuah was eventually asked to provide an overview of a case his former law firm handled for SIC Life in 2018. After the process, which Mr Afenyo-Markin said ended around 4pm, EOCO officials informed the MP that he was under arrest.
The MP was subsequently taken to his law firm in Dzorwulu, where investigators conducted a search. Mr Afenyo-Markin alleged that documents unrelated to the investigation, including documents relating to the MP’s vehicle, were taken during the exercise.
He said Baffour Awuah was later returned to EOCO and, after further questioning, was informed that investigators needed additional time to work on the case. He was subsequently placed in custody at about 8pm despite an objection from his lead counsel.
The Minority Leader said investigators told the MP on Friday morning that a team would be assembled to continue the second phase of the investigation, with an expectation that the process would be completed around midday and that bail could then be considered.
However, according to his account, no further action was taken until after 2pm, when EOCO informed Baffour Awuah that it wanted to search his residence.
The development forms part of EOCO’s ongoing investigation into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans. The agency had previously obtained a High Court warrant authorising Baffour Awuah’s arrest and searches for documents considered relevant to the investigation.
Baffour Awuah has disputed aspects of EOCO’s account of its earlier attempts to secure his attendance, while EOCO has maintained that it is conducting an ongoing investigation.
