EOCO holds Ayariga's 3 V8s

Lawmaker Mahama Ayariga, according to information available to Class News, had his three Toyota Land Cruisers sent to the office of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over two months ago, following investigations launched into the procurement of the cars by Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu.

The Bawku Central MP is being probed for allegedly abusing his office in acquiring the SUVs.

Mr Amidu has been investigating Mr Mahama for some time now.

Earlier in the month of August 2018, Mr Amidu reported the lawmaker to EOCO for obstructing investigations into his alleged corruption and abuse of his office in importing the three V8s into the country.

According to Mr Amidu, Mr Ayariga is harassing him with personal friends, former colleagues, chiefs, pastors, among others, to beg him to drop the investigations.

“The suspect refused to report to the offices of EOCO in Accra as demanded by a publication at page 26 of the Daily Graphic of 20th June, 2018 with vehicle numbers GR 2220-18, GR 2221-18, GR2222-18, GT 2243(sic)-17 and GT 4054-13, consequently, it fell on me to write to the Speaker of Parliament with a copy to Honourable Mahama Ayariga (the suspect) in my letter dated 26th June 2018 to release the suspect to report to the EOCO on 3rd July, 2018,” Mr Amidu said in his statement.

“When the suspect, Honourable Mahama Ayariga received his copy of my letter to the Speaker, he immediately started to get people who he perceived could put pressure on me (such as personal friends, former colleagues, chiefs, men of God etc.) to abate the investigation being conducted in the performance of my functions under Acts 959 and Act 804,” Mr Amidu added.

According to Mr Amidu, Mr Ayariga did not stop sending influential people to beg on his behalf despite several warnings to him to stop it, necessitating him to write to EOCO on 3 August 2018, to report the lawmaker’s conduct.

“I asked the EOCO on a number of occasions to warn the suspect to desist from his conduct of obstructing the investigation by soliciting others to put pressure on me to abate same to no avail.

“I have accordingly, on 3rd August 2018, requested the EOCO to investigate my complaint against the suspect for obstructing me, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of the functions of my office as the Special Prosecutor,” the statement said, adding that he will stick to his promise to be fair, firm and neutral in carrying out his job.

He said Ghanaians must respect his oath and pledge during his vetting, to remain fair and not tolerate “any interference or obstruction from anybody or organ of Government other than the courts of law in the performance of the independent functions of my office even if the culprit were my only brother.”