EOCO court warrant authorised search of Baffour Awuah’s law firm, not residence

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns about the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) decision to search the residence of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, arguing that the court order obtained by the agency only authorised a search of the legislator’s law firm.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the issue emerged on Friday, October 2, when EOCO informed the detained MP that investigators planned to conduct a search at his home.

Speaking to the media after visiting Mr Awuah in EOCO custody, the Minority Leader said the MP was surprised by the development because the court order, according to him, expressly permitted investigators to search his law firm at Dzorwulu.

He said the order obtained by EOCO was clear that the search was limited to the MP’s office and law firm.

Mr Afenyo-Markin also noted that the court had instructed EOCO to serve the order on Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.

He explained that the Speaker was expected to follow Parliament’s internal procedures to serve the order on Mr Awuah, after which the MP could present himself to EOCO.

According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, Mr Awuah subsequently questioned the basis for extending the search to his private residence when the court order specifically referred to his law office.

The Minority Leader’s comments follow EOCO’s visit with the Manhyia South MP to his former law firm on Thursday as part of investigations into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans. Reports at the time indicated that investigators also planned to search his residence.

Mr Awuah voluntarily reported to EOCO on October 1, accompanied by his lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, after the Accra High Court issued an arrest warrant against him.

EOCO had told the court that it had exhausted reasonable efforts to secure the MP’s voluntary attendance and expressed concern that relevant documents might be hidden, altered or destroyed.