Opuni trial: Dep AG says State witnesses are unwilling to testify
Some are on retirement and others are unhappy with being in the witness box for almost two years and thus unwilling to testify
Prosecution witnesses in the case against the former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni, and Businessman, Seidu Agongo are unwilling to testify in the trial following a fresh start of the case.
Some are on retirement and others are unhappy with being in the witness box for almost two years and thus they are unwilling to continue.
This was revealed in court today by the Deputy Attorney General, Alfred-Tuah Yeboah as reason for the state’s non-compliance with the court’s previous order to file their witness Statement by April 21 for Case Management Conference.
As such, Mr. Tuah Yeboah prayed the court for a 30-day extension to be able to speak to their witnesses and duly file their Witness statements.
After listening to both sides with the defense lawyers also agreeing with this plea, the presiding judge, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah thus adjourned the case to June 7.
On April 4, the newly assigned judge, ruled for the case to start afresh despite opposition from the prosecution.
He noted among others in his ruling that it will be unfair for the court to ignore allegations that were saddled with the case, and adopt the previous proceedings as it is.
Dr. Opuni and Agongo, the CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, are on trial for allegedly engaging in illegalities in a series of fertilizer transactions which the Attorney-General (A-G) says caused a financial loss of GH¢271.3 million to the state.
They were thus dragged to court by the A-G in March 2018 on 27 charges, including willfully causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretense, contravention of procurement laws, corruption of a public officer, and money laundering.
