Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah could spend the night in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as investigators continue questioning him over an ongoing financial investigation.
His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, said on Thursday, October 1, that the legislator had been at EOCO for about seven hours after voluntarily reporting himself to the agency.
Mr Atta Akyea questioned why his client was still being kept at the agency, arguing that the MP had cooperated with investigators and had not resisted efforts to question him.
“What is the value in detaining him overnight? What is the value to the state? When the man came here voluntarily, when he went to his office, was he resisting anything? The man is cooperating with you. Why do you want to detain him?” he asked.
Mr Atta Akyea said he was uncertain whether the MP would be released later in the evening, as questioning had yet to be completed.
The development follows an arrest warrant obtained by EOCO from the Accra High Court after the agency told the court that earlier attempts to get the MP to appear for questioning had not produced the required outcome.
Mr Baffour Awuah subsequently appeared at EOCO on Thursday accompanied by his lawyer, while investigators continued searches at locations linked to him.
The investigation centres on alleged financial transactions involving SIC Life, including a reported GH¢2.2 million payment to the MP’s former law firm as legal fees.
Mr Baffour Awuah has denied receiving the alleged GH¢2.2 million payment as legal fees and has also disputed aspects of EOCO’s account of its earlier attempts to secure his attendance.
With the MP still at EOCO as of Thursday night, it remains unclear when the questioning will conclude and when he will be released.
