The case of Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President and Abubakar Alhassan, ex-Chairman of Northern Regional Football Association (RFA) in a football scandal following Tiger Eye PI expose, has been adjourned to April 28, by an Accra High Court.
When the matter was called Mr Nyantakyi was present but Mr Alhassan was absent.
Prosecuting, Victoria Asieduaa, Principal State Attorney said the state would oblige a bench warrant for Mr Alhassan’s arrest.
Ms. Asiedua said the state has filed the necessary disclosures but that was not exhaustive.
The Principal State Attorney therefore prayed the court to grant her a week to file the rest of the disclosures.
Mr. Richard Laapo, who represented Alhassan said his client could not make it to court because his flight was cancelled.
Mr. Laapo who also held the brief for Mr. Thaddeus Sory, counsel for Nyantakyi, therefore prayed the court to excuse Alhassan.
Nyantakyi and Alhassan have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime.
Nyantakyi is facing additional charges of corruption by a public officer and fraud by an agent.
They have, however, denied the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of Gh¢1m with three sureties each; one of the sureties is to be justified.
The court presided over by Ms. Justice Comfort Tsiame ordered the accused to report to the Police every Friday until otherwise directed by the court.
Ms. Victoria Asiedua, Principal State Attorney prosecuting told the court, that Mr Nyantakyi was also a former President of Zone B of the West African Football Union (WAFU), former Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and former Council member of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
Prosecution said Alhassan was also a former Executive Committee member of the GFA.
Ms. Asieduaa said Tiger Eye PI is a private international investigation agency which conducted investigations into the activities of the GFA in the year 2016.
Prosecution said following the outcome of the 2016 investigations Tiger Eye Pi in 2017, presented itself to the accused as a representative of H.H Shiek Hammad Al Thani, a member of the ruling royal family of Qatar and Medgulf Company Limited, a company in Qatar.
The Prosecution said Tiger Eye presented to the accused that Medgulf was desirous of sponsoring the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and other GFA activities as well as infrastructural construction, oil refinery and banking among others in Ghana.
Prosecution said at a meeting held with the accused on October 7, 2017 at the Jude Palace Hotel in Dubai, Tiger Eye held its self as H.H Sheikh Hammad Al Thani, his secretary that Dr. Marzuk A. Albadawir and other staff of the Sheikh as jointly representing Medgulf while Nyantakyi presented himself as a powerful person and a potential public officer who could influence the President, Vice President, Minister for Roads and Highways and Transport of Ghana to promote the business interest of Medgulf in Ghana.
According to the prosecution at that meeting, it was agreed between Tiger Eye and the accused that Medgulf would sponsor the GPL with sum of $15 million for a three-year period resulting in the execution of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Medgulf and non-existent company named at Namax Company that would represent the interest of Medgulf in Ghana.
Prosecution said the MOU was signed by Nyantakyi, where he was described as President of GFA, acting on behalf of Namax.
The Prosecution said the signature of Nyantakyi was witnessed by Alhassan and was further agreed between Tiger eye and two accused that all monies paid by Medgulf into Ghana would be channelled through Fountain Savings and Loans Limited, a firm in which Nyantakyi held majority Shares.
She said Tiger Eye paid $65,000 to Nyantakyi as inducement for showing favour to Medgulf as a potential sponsor of the GPL and to provide businesses opportunities for Medgulf in Ghana.
Prosecution said Tiger Eye also paid for the cost of the accommodation and travel expenses of both accused to and from Dubai.
Prosecution said Nyantakyi also demanded from Tiger Eye the sum of $12million dollars to influence the award of contracts to Medgulf in Ghana to be distributed in the following manner.
The President of Ghana, the Vice President, Minister and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways and the two accused.
The prosecution said the accused made several demands for the payment of $ 12 million as well as GPL sponsorship money with the promise to Dr. Alabdawir, a supposed secretary to Medgulf $100,000 per a year for three years as 10 per cent commission on the sponsorship amount and $20,000 as appearance fee.
Prosecution said Tiger Eye refused to yield to the demands of the accused and later lodged a complaint with the Police. –GNA
