The Court of Appeal, hearing a case filed by the state against the acquittal and discharge of Alfred Agbesi Woyome over the fraudulent receipt of GH¢51.2 million from the government for no work done, has fixed March 10, 2016 as the day of judgment.
Even though the court did not sit, both Woyome and the state were informed by officers of the court when they went there that on March 10, 2016, judgment would be given on the fate of Woyome who is believed to be the bankroller of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The presiding Appeal Court judge, Justice Victor Ofoe, had at the last hearing ordered the principal state attorney in the case, Mrs. Yvonne Obuobisa, to file a reply to a submission by Woyome and she is believed to have filed the submission based on which a judgment date has been fixed.
The Attorney General is pushing for Woyome to be convicted of the crime of fraud and if found guilty, he faces not less than five years’ imprisonment term.
The two other justices in the case are L.L. Mensah and Francis Kordieh.
The National Democratic Congress financier has been accused of defrauding the state to the tune of GH¢51.28 million after being paid a ‘fraudulent’ judgment debt.
The state appealed against the final judgment of the high court presided over by Justice John Ajet-Nasam – one of the judges captured in the Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ expose which showcased several judges allegedly taking bribes to divert the course of judgment.
The high court had in March last year acquitted and discharged Woyome of the charges of causing financial loss to the state and defrauding by false pretence.
The state claims that the trial judge stated clearly that the state had been able to prove that Woyome had a case to answer based on which he was ordered to open his defence.
According to the state, the view of the trial judge in his judgment that the defence team created a lot of doubt in the state’s case was not in consonance with his earlier stance.
The trial judge said from the records before the court the businessman and former diplomat had a contract with the then Kufuor administration for the building of stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Essipong and Tamale to enable the country host the Confederation of African Nations (CAN 2008) soccer competition.
According to Ajet-Nassam, who has been suspended by the Chief Justice over the Anas/Tiger Eye PI’s expose, the approval of the bid by the Central Tender Board Committee even though was not officially communicated to Woyome, amounted to a binding contract and so Woyome was entitled to his claim.
Source: Daily Guide
