The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has taken on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over a recent Facebook publication.
His lawyers say the OSP is just engaged in public theatrics since their client has honoured all invitations and availed himself whenever required with no mention of assets or business linked to him.
The OSP had responded to a video by Dr Abdul-Hamid, claiming assets valued at GH¢100 million had been seized as part of investigations.
“As counsel for Dr. Abdul-Hamid, we wish to place on record, emphatically and without ambiguity, that no assets or businesses belonging to or associated with our client have been identified, traced, or seized by the OSP,” said a press statement issued by Hay & Partners at Law on Wednesday, November 5.
“Our client owns no such assets, directly or indirectly, and no property worth the stated amount exists anywhere in connection with him.”
Signed by Hanifa Yahaya Esq., the statement noted that not even one of the five counts of alleged offences against the former Minister of Information on the amended charge sheet of October 17 refers to or concerns any asset or business purportedly owned by him.
It observed further that the accompanying statement of facts filed by the OSP is devoid of any reference to any assets.
“It is therefore false, misleading, and injurious for the OSP to make public assertions inconsistent with its own court filings in respect of Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid.”
The lawyers reminded the OSP that its officers are bound by constitutional and ethical obligations to discharge their duties with fairness, integrity, and respect for the rights and dignity of all persons including persons they have arraigned before court.
“Engaging in public commentary that distorts facts before the court is inconsistent with those obligations and unbecoming of the prosecutorial office.”
They advised the OSP to “devote its energies to prosecutorial diligence rather than media sensationalism”.