Abdul-Hamid trial will continue during legal vacation, judge tells lawyers

A Ghanaian High Court judge has rejected a request to postpone the trial of former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) chief executive Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and five others during the legal vacation.

Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga said he would continue hearing the case until the Chief Justice revoked the warrant authorising him to sit during the vacation.

The legal vacation runs from 1 August to 30 September, but courts can continue hearing cases under warrants issued by the Chief Justice.

Defence lawyers for five of the accused had asked the court to adjourn the case until October, saying they had prior commitments, including travel outside Ghana.

One lawyer told the court he had already booked a flight to attend to personal matters during the vacation.

But Justice Achibonga said there would have been no reason for the Chief Justice to issue a warrant if the case was not intended to be heard during the period.

He said the court would continue with the hearings until the warrant was withdrawn.

The judge also said that because the lawyers seeking to travel worked for a law firm, the firm should have another lawyer available to represent the accused.

He gave the accused until the next hearing on 17 August to decide on their legal representation.

If they remain without lawyers, the judge said the court would proceed with the Case Management Conference and

the accused would have to represent themselves.

What is the case about?

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has accused Dr Abdul-Hamid and two former NPA officials of conspiring to extort more than GH¢291m ($323,407) from companies operating in Ghana's petroleum downstream sector.

The other two NPA officials are Jacob Kwamina Amuah, a coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member.

The OSP alleges that the three devised and operated a scheme between 2022 and December 2024 to obtain money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under various pretexts.

Three company executives have also been charged with allegedly helping to conceal and launder the proceeds.

They are Isaac Mensa and Bright Bediako-Mensah, both directors of Kel Logistics, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, a

director of Kings Energy.

All six accused have pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail.

Prosecutors allege that millions of cedis from the scheme were channelled through companies linked to some of the accused.

The OSP says the money was used to buy trucks, acquire property and construct houses and fuel stations in an effort to conceal its alleged criminal origins.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

The case will resume on August 17, when the accused are expected to confirm their legal representation.