Wednesday, 12 February

COCOBOD fake fertilizer allegations: I slept in EOCO cells for two days – Agongo tells story after withdrawal of charges

General News
Seidu Agongo

Businessman Alhaji Seidu Agongo has disclosed that he spent two days in custody at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over allegations of selling adulterated fertilizers to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

His revelation follows the withdrawal of all charges against him and former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Opuni, by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, on January 28.

During court proceedings, State Attorney Enam Loh Mensah informed the court that the Attorney-General had directed the discontinuation of the case, leading to the filing of a formal notice of withdrawal.

Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo had been facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.

The trial, which began in 2018, centred on allegations that they procured substandard fertilizers for COCOBOD, reportedly causing financial losses to the state.

 Seidu Agongo recounted his ordeal:“I was arrested, detained, and spent about two days in EOCO cells.

I was told they were looking for me, so I went to report myself.

They said I had sold adulterated fertilizers to COCOBOD.”

He accused EOCO of using intimidation tactics to extract a confession from him.

“They wanted to detain me to create fear and panic in me.

That was my first time sleeping in a cell.”

He spoke in an interview on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah