The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Thursday carried out searches at premises linked to Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, as investigations into alleged financial offences continued.
The MP was taken by EOCO investigators to his former law firm, Sarkodie, Baffour Awuah & Partners, before investigators proceeded towards his residence to execute a court-authorised search warrant. His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, accompanied him during the process.
The searches followed Baffour Awuah’s voluntary appearance at EOCO’s headquarters in Accra at approximately 10 a.m. on October 1. EOCO subsequently placed him under arrest and said he was cooperating with investigators.
The latest development follows an Accra High Court decision on September 30 authorising EOCO to arrest the MP and search for and seize documents considered relevant to its investigation.
EOCO told the court that previous efforts to secure Baffour Awuah’s attendance had not produced the required outcome. The agency says it had issued invitations to him earlier in the year. The MP has disputed aspects of EOCO’s account, maintaining that correspondence related to his former law firm’s representation of SIC Life Savings and Loans and that representatives of the firm had engaged investigators.
The court order came a week after a highly publicised confrontation between EOCO officials and the MP at the Accra High Court complex on September 23.
According to an EOCO statement, its investigation involves allegations of criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering, tax-related offences and other related matters.
Separate reporting has linked part of the investigation to an alleged GH¢2.2 million payment involving legal services provided by Baffour Awuah’s former law firm. Baffour Awuah disputes allegations concerning the payment.
These remain allegations under investigation. No court finding cited in the reporting reviewed by Moment of Wisdom establishes the MP’s guilt.
EOCO itself has urged the public not to prejudge the matter, saying investigative and judicial processes should be allowed to proceed without speculation or premature conclusions.
Samuel Atta Akyea raised concerns about EOCO searching the law firm’s premises, arguing that investigators risk accessing confidential information belonging to clients who have no connection with the case.
Atta Akyea told Joy FM that investigators were looking for a file connected with SIC, but said Baffour Awuah had informed them that the file had already been returned to the client.
He argued that any search should remain within the boundaries of the court order and the specific investigation because law firms hold confidential information belonging to many clients.
That represents the defence lawyer’s position; EOCO has maintained that it is pursuing relevant evidence under lawful investigative procedures.
Atta Akyea also said Thursday evening that his client could spend the night in EOCO custody as questioning continued.
The lawyer argued that Baffour Awuah had cooperated with investigators and did not pose a flight risk, questioning the need for prolonged detention.
EOCO, meanwhile, said it would pursue all relevant lines of inquiry while respecting the constitutional and legal rights of everyone involved.
The agency said its investigation would proceed “professionally, independently and in accordance with due process.”
The October 1 searches mark a significant development following the September 23 confrontation at the Accra High Court.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai said the initial interaction at the court began as an invitation but developed into an attempted arrest when the officer sought to prevent the MP from leaving. EOCO subsequently abandoned that operation after determining that continuing could pose a public-safety risk.
With a High Court warrant now obtained and Baffour Awuah having reported to EOCO, attention has shifted from the earlier confrontation to the substantive investigation and the evidence investigators may gather.
The central legal question will ultimately be determined by evidence and due process—not by political commentary, social-media speculation or the circumstances surrounding the earlier confrontation.
For now, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has not been found guilty of the allegations being investigated, and EOCO has itself called on the public to avoid premature conclusions.
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