Private Legal Practitioner Bobby Banson says it is obvious institutions responsible for investigating the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah’s case have concluded the matter.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has indicated its intention to return the docket on the former Sanitation Minister, to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
This decision comes in the wake of advice from the Office of the Attorney General, which recommended against initiating money laundering investigations into Cecilia Dapaah.
The Attorney General’s office cited the OSP’s failure to establish evidence of corruption or corruption-related offences as the reason for this advice.
At the 14th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-corruption Agencies in Africa, Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of EOCO, stated that there was nothing further her organisation could do in this matter.
In a conversation with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Mr Banson suggested that the most effective course of action would have been to bring the accused to court.
He said that would allow for a definitive conclusion to the matter, providing closure for all interested parties.
Mr. Banson stated, “I think that between those we have entrusted state resources to investigate such offences or suspected crimes. Between them, it is obvious that they have decided to put an end to the case. Now as to whether or not they had the legal basis to do so, the Attorney General is the principal advisor to the government, so if the AG says that there is no basis for you to proceed, is it to proceed to investigate or to proceed to prosecute?…I think that whatever the reason may be, they have decided to let sleeping dogs lie.”
He added, “I believe that the best approach should have been to put the accused person before the court and let the evidence that the state has be presented [in court]. If she has any defences she raises it and let the court of competent jurisdiction come out with the conclusion so that any person who was interested in the case in the name of anti-corruption will see that at least there was finality to this.”
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