The lawyer for Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah says the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has formally charged his client with offences including money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.

Speaking on Joy FM on Thursday, October 1, Mr Baffour Awuah’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, said EOCO had presented the charges against the MP in connection with its investigation into transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans.

“Yes indeed. I’m talking about loss of public funds and also causing loss and then money laundering,” Mr Atta Akyea said.

However, the lawyer strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that his client’s involvement in the transaction was in his professional capacity as a lawyer representing SIC Life.

He explained that SIC Life had engaged his client’s law firm to recover an investment from Equity Savings and Loans, resulting in legal proceedings that culminated in a court judgment.

According to Mr Atta Akyea, the law firm subsequently took steps to enforce the judgment, including filing an entry of judgment and attaching property belonging to Equity Savings and Loans.

“It is legitimate in the sense that a judgment was handed down, and it’s legitimate because an entry of judgment was filed. It is legitimate because they attached the property belonging to the Equity Savings and Loans,” he said.

He argued that the documentary trail surrounding the transaction showed that the law firm had acted on the instructions of its client and questioned how such conduct could constitute a criminal offence.

“So the paper trail is conclusive that the lawyer was working on the case, and how can you say somebody has been shortchanged?” he asked.

Mr Atta Akyea also disputed reports that the transaction involved GH¢14 million, saying the entry of judgment showed an amount of about GH¢10 million, representing the investment and interest.

“In fact, the entry of judgment does not show that it’s 14 million. It’s 10 million, which is the investment plus the interest,” he said.

He further questioned whether the matter falls within EOCO’s mandate, arguing that the transaction was part of legitimate legal proceedings.

“So if you look at it from every perspective, this is not a remit of EOCO, I’m afraid,” he said.

EOCO has said its investigation concerns alleged unauthorised financial transactions involving SIC Life Savings and Loans, with suspected financial loss, dissipation of public funds and money laundering among the alleged offences.

The allegations against the MP have not been determined by a court.

Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah reported himself to EOCO on Thursday after the Accra High Court issued a warrant authorising his arrest and the search and seizure of documents relevant to the investigation.

He was subsequently arrested and is cooperating with investigators, according to EOCO.