The Office of the Special Prosecutor has disagreed with the decision of an Accra High Court, ordering it to return monies it seized from the home of embattled former Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The OSP had applied to the court for a confirmation of the seizure of staggering amounts of monies it had discovered at the former Minister’s home and the freezing of her bank accounts.
But the court, in its ruling today, refused to grant the confirmation and ordered the anti-graft agency to return the monies to Ms. Dapaah within 7 days.
This, the court argued, is because the OSP failed to provide basis for its action. It contended that the decision to seize the monies and freeze her accounts was based on mere speculation and public sentiment and that the OSP did not conduct any proper investigation to warrant such action.
The court further contended that the application for confirmation was not filed within the stipulated time period and therefore, could not be granted.
But the OSP, in a statement signed by Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, disagreed with the court’s decision.
“While the OSP respects the court’s decision, it disagrees with the decision of the court,” it said in the statement.
It argued that its action was based on reasonable suspicion of the cash amounts and the bank balances being tainted property as the embattled former minister was evasive about the source of the monies.
The OSP rejected the court’s position that its order to freeze Ms. Dapaah’s bank accounts was based on public sentiments, arguing that it was on the basis of a theft case currently before an Accra Circuit Court in which the former minister is a complainant.
It added that the freezing order was issued, as required by law, to aid investigation into the matter which is ongoing and not on the basis of any probe as posited by the court.
It described the court’s assertion that it filed the application for confirmation out of time as erroneous.
It is, however, assuring the public that “it will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that the seized amounts and the balances in Ms. Dapaah’s accounts and investments are neither concealed, lost, or otherwise dissipated”.
Cecilia Abena Dapaah became a subject of investigation after it emerged that she stashed a million dollars, hundreds of thousands of euros and a millions of cedis in her Abelemkpe home which were allegedly stolen by her house helps.
The revelation sparked public outcry leading to her resignation.
She was, subsequently, arrested by the OSP and a search conducted at her 3 residences, all in Accra.
The search led to the discovery of another staggering amounts of monies stashed in her home.
The OSP seized the monies and ordered the freezing of her bank accounts and was now seeking a court confirmation in line with the law.
The court, however, denied the confirmation and ordered it to return the monies.
