The Ghanaian Chronicle says it can reveal that after dispensing of the services of his first lawyer, Mallam Issah, the former Youth and Sports Minister, is in deep negotiations with two top senior lawyers in Accra for the replacement.

The two lawyers who are likely to be hired by Mallam Issah are Messrs Ambrose Derry and Ayikoi Otoo, but it is not yet known who will get the nod. However, it is certain that either of these legal brains or both will surely lead Mallam to prove his innocence or otherwise.

Mallam Yusif Issah, who is standing trial before an Accra High Court, is charged on two counts of stealing and fraudulently causing financial loss to the state.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been granted $500 million bail and ordered to deposit a title deed of landed property with the court and report to the Police Criminal Investigation Department on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays till, the end of the case.

On Wednesday morning, Alhaji Huhu Billa fired a terse letter to the High Court registrar informing him about his withdrawal from the case, apologizing for any inconvenience "I must have caused to the court because of my withdrawal,"

Alhaji Nuhu Billa of Ameyi Chambers represented Mallam Issah at the Commission of Inquiry set up by the government over the loss of the $46,000 leading to the dismissed Minister's charge. Alhaji Nuhu Billa in his letter of withdrawal said his decision was personal, stating that he accepted to defend the ex-Minister without any personal gain.

At the last sitting there were seeming cracks in the defence front when Alhaji Nuhu Billa disagreed with his client over the second charge.

He pointed out to the court presided over by Justice Julius Ansah, an Appeal Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, that his client was responsible for the loss of the money, and that they were making efforts to pay it back to the state, while Mallam Issa had pleaded not guilty to the two charges.