Lawyers for the former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Stephen Opuni have filed a submission of no case in the trial where he and two others have been accused of causing financial loss to the state.
According to the defense attorneys, the state has refused to establish beyond a fair doubt that their client perpetrated the alleged offense.
No lawsuit was brought on April 12, 2021, after the denial of an oral one by Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, a Supreme Court judge who also serves as a High Court judge, who invited the defense party to “come” formally by submitting an appeal with the court.
Dr. Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD and Seidu Agongo, Managing Director of Agricult Ghana Limited, are charged with causing the state financial loss of GH217,370,289.22.
They are being sued for the procurement and distribution of Lithovit fertilizer, which the state asserts violated a number of rules.
Read Also: Claims government coerced GRIDCo to shelve dumsor timetable untrue – Energy Ministry
They face 27 offences, including defrauding the state under false pretenses, willfully causing financial harm to the state, money smuggling, public official theft, and violating the Public Procurement Act.
All also pled not guilty and are being held under a GH300,000 self-recognizance bail.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
