Former Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has strongly criticised the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former MASLOC Chief Executive OfficerSedinam Tamakloe Attionu, describing the judgment as erroneous and urging the Attorney-General to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

Tuah-Yeboah, who was involved in the prosecution of the case, said he was surprised by the Court of Appeal’s decision and disagreed with its conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support Tamakloe Attionu’s conviction.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (31 July), he said the judgment was not supported by the evidence presented during the trial.

“I see the judgment as having no basis and I also think that the judgment is very cancerous and ought to be challenged at the Supreme Court,” he said.

Tuah-Yeboah cited several transactions involving MASLOC which, according to him, provided evidence against the former CEO.

He said one involved a GH¢500,000 loan intended for a microfinance company in the Ashanti Region.

According to him, the company initially received a cheque but returned it because it could not meet the interest requirements. He said Tamakloe Attionu subsequently instructed the company to bring cash instead.

Tuah-Yeboah alleged that representatives of the company cashed the cheque and handed the money to Tamakloe Attionu at a location near a ferry station, rather than at the MASLOC office.

He said the representatives testified for the Republic and that MASLOC’s accountant, auditors and the CEO who succeeded Tamakloe Attionu also provided evidence that the money was not returned to the organisation.

He therefore questioned the Court of Appeal’s conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction.

“If you want to get evidence, you may have to get Jesus Christ to come and testify for you,” he said.

Tuah-Yeboah also cited other transactions, including funds allocated following the Kantamanto fire incident, a nationwide MASLOC sensitisation programme and funds intended for financial literacy activities.

He alleged that investigations and audits showed that portions of those funds were either not disbursed or were not returned to MASLOC.

He further raised questions over the procurement of more than 350 vehicles, claiming that investigations established a significant difference between the prevailing market price and the amount allegedly paid under the procurement.

According to him, the total amount involved in the case at the time of prosecution was close to GH¢90 million.

He said seven witnesses, including investigators, auditors, MASLOC officials and other witnesses, testified during the trial.

Tuah-Yeboah also rejected the Court of Appeal’s suggestion that defects in the charges provided grounds for Tamakloe Attionu’s acquittal.

He argued that even if there were defects in the charges, the relevant provisions of the law provided mechanisms for dealing with such defects and that they should not automatically result in an acquittal where sufficient evidence existed.

He maintained that the High Court had carefully considered the evidence before convicting Tamakloe Attionu.

“I do see that this judgment cannot stand the test of media scrutiny. The judgment is palpably not in accord with the laws of the land,” he said.

Tuah-Yeboah said he expected the Attorney-General to pursue the matter before the Supreme Court, arguing that the case had wider implications for Ghana’s fight against corruption.