Dr. Stephen Opuni
EMBATTLED FORMER Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Opuni, has renewed his move to temporarily put his trial on hold by filing another application for stay of proceedings.
The application, filed before an Accra High Court where he and businessman, Seidu Agongo are standing trial for allegedly causing over GH¢217 million financial loss to the state, is challenging the trial judge’s order on him to call his fourth witness.
Dr. Opuni had called his third witness who was being cross-examined via video link due to medical reasons which could not permit the witness to be physically present in the courtroom.
The facility being used for the video telecast of the proceedings had already been booked by other users and the only date available for the trial is June 24, 2022.
Justice Clemence Honyenuga, a Supreme Court judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, therefore, ordered Dr. Opuni to call his fourth witness in order to effectively manage the trial while the third witness can be cross-examined on June 24.
But his lawyer has filed an application for stay of proceedings before the court in protest of the order on him to call his fourth witness when the third witness was yet to be discharged.
He is also challenging the court’s decision to hold the trial in the absence of Dr. Opuni, who he said was indisposed hence was given a 14-day excuse duty which has not elapsed.
Justice Honyenuga, therefore, adjourned the case to June 22, 2022, which is the return date on the application for determination.
Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo, Managing Director of Agricult Ghana Limited are before an Accra High Court for causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢217,370,289.22.
The two are facing a total of 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretence, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by a public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
The two are in court over the purchase and supply of Lithovit liquid fertiliser which the state said was done in contravention of several laws.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak