General News of Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Source: starrfmonline.com

EOCO freezes Opuni’s accounts again

Former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD Stephen Opuni Former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD Stephen Opuni

The Bank accounts of the embattled former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD Stephen Opuni have been frozen again just a day after a court ordered the Economic and Organised Crime Office to unfreeze them, Starrfmonline.com has learnt.

According to StarrFMonline.com sources, EOCO has written to the respective banks not to allow Mr. Opuni access to his money despite the court order. The banks involved Standard Chartered Bank and the Opeibea House branch of Ecobank.

Dr. Opuni’s accounts were frozen in February 2017 at the behest of EOCO.

The Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) has been investigating him since he was axed from the office when President Akufo-Addo took office.

He and businessman Seidu Agongo are facing charges for alleged financial malfeasance in the execution of some contracts at COCOBOD.

They have been granted self-recognisance bail in the sum of GHc300, 000 each.

They are each to deposit their passport with the Director General of the CID and also report to the DG of the CID anytime they want to travel.

The DG of the CID is also to report to the registrar of the court 48 hours before any activity.



Dr. Opuni has pleaded not guilty to all the 27 charges leveled against him and Mr. Agongo, the managing director of Agricult.

Dr. Opuni and Agongo will be tried by nine State Attorneys including the Attorney General, Ms Gloria Akuffo.



The two are before Justice CJ Honyenuga, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, for wilfully causing financial loss to the state

Dr. Opuni is being represented by Lawyer Samuel Cudjoe and Johnson Normesinu, while Agongo, MD for Agricult appeared with a five-member legal team.