Court Watch: Adu-Boahene to open defence, Baffour Awuah’s passport and the week’s cases
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Courts ordered defences opened, passports released and suspects held, from Accra to London to New York, in a busy week for justice.
Adu-Boahene and wife to open defence in GH¢49.1m case
The Accra High Court ordered former NSB chief Kwabena Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei Boateng and their company to open their defence over the alleged theft of GH¢49.1 million meant for a cyber-defence system.
Justice Francis Achibonga held that the prosecution proved a prima facie case on eight counts against him, including stealing and money laundering, and four against his wife, but acquitted him on two fraud counts.
Witness statements are due by December 4 and the case returns on December 10.
Baffour Awuah keeps his passport for foreign travel
Justice Charity Akosua Asem released Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah’s passport on Thursday so he can travel for parliamentary duties while his financial-loss trial continues.
He faces conspiracy, financial loss and money laundering charges over legal services for SIC Savings and Loans in a dispute said to involve GH¢9.85 million, after pleading not guilty in October.
63,673 ghost names drew allowances, court hears
An investigator told the court that 63,673 faceless names drew National Service allowances for no work in 2023 and 2024, in the trial of former deputy director Gifty Oware-Mensah.
Detective Sergeant Collins Woode said the names had no verifiable identities yet were paid monthly through ADB. She faces five counts over an alleged GH¢38 million loss and denies them.
Wontumi wins recall of key witness
Justice Ruby Aryeetey granted Chairman Wontumi leave to recall the first prosecution witness, former Akonta Mining manager Edward Akuoku, for further cross-examination in the Tano Nimiri illegal-mining trial.
The prosecution withdrew its opposition after the defence said the questioning would take about two hours. He is standing trial with Akonta Mining over alleged unlicensed mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest.
Javits Frimpong suspect held without bail in New York
A Bronx court denied bail to the 17-year-old charged over the killing of Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong, 15, keeping him in custody after his first appearance on Wednesday evening.
He faces intentional murder, manslaughter and weapons charges, of which he is presumed innocent, while police hunt two more suspects seen on surveillance footage.
Cheddar asks UK court to overturn US$14.9m judgment
Businessman Nana Kwame Bediako asked London’s High Court to overturn the US$14.9 million Cola Holdings judgment against him, claiming the indemnity deed behind it was forged.
He says he was in Nigeria when the January 2018 deed was supposedly signed, while Cola Holdings says it guaranteed and repaid a US$18 million project loan.
Two remanded over GH¢19,000 debt killing
The Dambai Magistrate Court remanded Isaac Sekyi, 36, and Reindolf Sekeni, 45, into prison custody over the alleged murder of Rejoice Sena Akpaku, 39.
Police say she travelled from Somanya to Dormabin on October 28 to recover GH¢19,000 allegedly owed by Sekyi, and her body was later found near Adumadum.
They return to court on December 2, while three others arrested were granted police bail.
No case against Justice Pwamang, Chief Justice finds
The Chief Justice found no prima facie case in the petition seeking the removal of Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, closing the matter.
The petition by journalist Edward Adeti cited a 2023 gift of a bull and a later appeal ruling, but the threshold for a formal probe was not met.
