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28.01.2008 General News

Abodakpi’s case resumes today

28.01.2008 LISTEN
By The Enquirer


After almost a two-month's break, the case of Mr. Dan Kwasi Abodakpi, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Member of Parliament for Keta in the Volta Region is expected to resume today at the Court of Appeal, in Accra.

The long break follows the dismissal of Justice Henrietta Abban's alleged interference in the case on the day of Justice Farkye's judgment.

With court's refusal to allow uphold the alleged interference as one of the grounds of appeal and grant his client bail, Mr. Tony Lithur, Mr. Abodakpi's counsel is expected to start making arguments in the substantive appeal against the ten-year jail term-slapped on the MP, who is also an ex-minister for Trade and Industry.

The MP was convicted last year for causing financial loss to the State in the Science and Technology Park Project.

Mr. Abodakpi, whose seat has remained vacant since his conviction, has denied the charge, saying there has been a miscarriage of justice.

His party, the opposition NDC also holds the view that the conviction of the MP is part of a ground ploy by the ruling NPP to decimate their political opponents by jailing a sizeable number of their members.

Mr Lithur would, however, want to stay clear off the politics of the case.

He maintains that there has not been any financial loss to the state because the said amount was used to pay for a study proposal into the Science and Technology Park Project.

He told the appeal court sometime last year, that his client has not in anyway benefited from the said money.

Besides, ECOBANK Ghana Limited, where the consultant engaged for the study proposal, Dr. Frederick Owusu-Boadu of Leebda Corporation has an account, is still keeping the money.

According to Mr Lithur, the government knows where the money is, and has through the Attorney General caused that account to be frozen.

With the location of the money known to the government, Mr. Lithur disclosed that the government has issued a reinstitution order to ECOBANK Ghana to have the money returned to its chest.

Source: The Enquirer

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