Dennis Miracles Aboagye can't meet GH¢50million bail conditions — Lawyers

Lawyers representing Dennis Edward Aboagye, popularly known as "Miracles", say their client has been unable to satisfy the bail conditions imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), describing the requirements as harsh and difficult to meet.

Lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea criticised the bail terms, which require Mr Aboagye to provide a GH¢50 million bond with three sureties, two of whom must be justified, arguing that the conditions are unrealistic within the available period.

Speaking to journalists at EOCO’s headquarters, Mr Atta Akyea questioned how his client could secure properties worth GH¢50 million and present qualified sureties within such a short time.

"How is he going to be released? How is he going to post the bail bonds? GH¢50 million, three sureties, two to be justified. How can it be met? Where are you going to find properties worth GH¢50 million and find them tonight?" he asked.

The lawyer also raised concerns that EOCO risked exceeding the constitutional 48-hour limit for holding a suspect in custody without taking further action.

Mr Aboagye, who is an aide to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was arrested by EOCO at the Accra International Airport after returning from abroad.

The arrest forms part of investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).

The former IMCCoD Accountant, Gerald Appiah, was also arrested in connection with the investigation.

The bail conditions have attracted criticism from the NPP, with the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, cautioning the government against what he described as "Rambo-style" arrests of opposition figures.

Meanwhile, EOCO has disclosed that Mr Appiah has voluntarily started refunding some funds allegedly linked to the suspected offences. The anti-graft agency, however, stressed that the repayments do not bring the investigations to an end or remove potential criminal liability from any of the suspects.

EOCO has assured the public that the probe will be conducted professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law while respecting the constitutional rights of all persons involved.

The Office added that further updates on the matter would be provided as the investigation progresses.