Minority Caucus Slams ‘Unfair’ Bail for Former NAFCO CEO

The minority caucus in Parliament slammed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over the bail terms set for the arrested former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Abdul Hannan Wahab.

In a statement released on Saturday, June 29, the minority said the GHS 50 million bail for Wahab and an additional GHS 30 million bail for his wife are excessive and a form of political persecution.

“These conditions, by all standards, are excessive. Bail is not supposed to be a punishment or a pre-conviction sentence. It is a legal instrument meant to ensure an accused person’s availability for trial, not to punish or intimidate.” the statement read.

The statement pointed to  Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), and a Supreme Court ruling in Kpebu No. 2 v Attorney-General, both of which lend credence to the fact that bail must be set at a reasonable amount.

“Where in our laws does it say someone must risk bankruptcy just to secure their freedom while under investigation?” the statement queried.

The minority’s complaints follow on the heels of similar complaints lodged following the arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, by EOCO.

Abdul Hannan Wahab and his wife are accused of tax evasion, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state during the former’s administration of NAFCO.

Analysis on Abdul Hanan’s bail conditions

The minority, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, have come out swinging after yet another member of their party found themselves in the clutches of the law.

While some of their actions since this government took power can be described as a nuisance, the minority are not wrong in their complaints here.

The trend of high bail amounts being set by EOCO, in particular, while looking fine at this moment, risks setting numerous precedents that could be used in the future to haunt members of this current administration.

Source: Liberalprint.com