EOCO under fire as Samson Lardy Ayenini condemns disregard for court order in council of state member case

Renowned legal practitioner and host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Ayenini, has backed the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in its call on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to strictly comply with the rule of law in its handling of a matter involving a Council of State member.

Speaking on the issue, Ayenini strongly criticised EOCO’s conduct, describing it as “a chilling masterclass in institutional lawlessness.” He said it was troubling that a state agency established to enforce the law would act in a manner that suggests it is above the very laws it is mandated to uphold.

According to him, EOCO approached the matter “as though it were dealing with a criminal enterprise,” raising serious concerns about procedural fairness and potential abuse of power. He stressed that the agency failed to comply with its governing legal framework, particularly its inability to secure confirmation of its account freezing order within the required 14-day period under Act 804.

Ayenini also took issue with EOCO’s actions following the court’s intervention, describing its response as “breathtaking defiance.” He noted that instead of complying with the ruling and purging its contempt, the agency issued a press release, labelled an individual a “person of interest,” and threatened arrest.

He warned that such conduct poses a serious threat to governance and the justice system. “When a state institution begins to interpret court orders as optional, something it can ignore because its internal investigations carry more weight than judicial authority, we exit the realm of the rule of law and enter the realm of whims,” he cautioned.

A similar position was taken by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in a statement issued on April 7, 2026, which criticised EOCO’s handling of its dealings with Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple. The House referenced a High Court ruling that found EOCO to have acted without lawful authority and in breach of constitutional principles, describing the judgment as clear and unequivocal.

The statement further condemned EOCO’s continued actions despite the ruling, characterising them as defiance of judicial authority and an affront to the rule of law. It urged the agency to respect due process and, where dissatisfied with the decision, to pursue lawful appellate procedures rather than undermine public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.