Saglemi Housing case: Court gives former Chief Director 48 hours to show up
This is to enable his plea to be taken in the case that has pended since 2021, involving the former Minister of Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and others.
The High Court has given Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, a former Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing 48 hours to appear before it.
This is to enable his plea to be taken in the case that has pended since 2021, involving the former Minister of Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and others.
Giving this order on Monday, June 5, 2023, the new trial judge, Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa noted that the law will take its course in the event that the accused person fails to show up after 48 hours.
Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, who was Chief Director of the ministry from 2009 to 2017, has been charged together with the then sector minister, his successor, Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah and others over the Saglemi Housing project however has not been present to plead to the charges due to his health condition.
The former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing under the erstwhile John Mahama administration, and Member of Parliament for Asutifi South Constituency, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and the four others have been charged with the offense of causing financial loss to the State; intentionally misapplying public property, among others over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.
The other accused persons are Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Andrew Clocanas, and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo.
In all, the five accused persons are facing a total of 52 counts for various offenses.
New Charges
On January 24, 2023, the state substituted the original charge sheet with new charges after which the case was assigned to a new judge in May this year.
The five accused persons are now facing a total of 72 counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates, and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
However, while the four accused persons have already pleaded not guilty to these charges, Alhaji Ziblim is yet to plead.
Per the old charge sheet, the first accused person, Alhaji Collins Dauda a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing is facing a total of 13 counts of three charges namely; intentionally misapplying public property, willfully causing financial loss to the state, and issuing a false certificate.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemeng Mensah, who is the second accused person is facing 22 counts of two charges as follows; willfully causing financial loss to the state and issuing a false certificate.
Also, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, the third accused person is facing 29 counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state and issuing a false certificate.
Andrew Clocanas, the fourth accused person is facing two (2) counts of issuing a false certificate and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
The last accused person in the person of Nouvi Tetteh Angelo is facing four (4) counts of issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
Appearing in court, the counsel for Alhaji Ziblim however prayed the court upon submitting a letter for his client to be given some time to recover and also for video conferencing materials to be provided at the AG’s Department at Tamale for his client to plead to the charges.
This was opposed by the state represented by the Principal State Attorney, Hilda Craig noting that no such facilities existed at the AG’s office there.
In his ruling, the presiding judge thus ordered the accused person to appear on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
