Hot Source
Lawyers representing the former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, have stated that their client does not own, partially own, or have any connection to any of the assets published by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), thereby shifting the burden of proof onto OSP, William Kisi Agyabeng, to establish guilt.
In a post on Thursday, November 6, 2025, on X, the OSP insisted on seizing and freezing assets exceeding GH₵100 million and US$100,000, including real estate holdings, fuel stations, and logistics vehicles, allegedly belonging to Dr Abdul-Hamid, a claim he has denied.
The exchange with the ex-NPA boss outside the courtroom suggests that the OSP will need to do more than just listing items. It must provide the public with photographs, documents, and other evidence to establish the true ownership of the properties, especially given that it has reportedly amended its Charge Sheets multiple times.
The OSP last week provided GPS coordinates for the landed properties, along with the brands, registrations, and chassis numbers of the vehicles allegedly owned by Mustapha Hamid, stating that additional assets remain under active tracing as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged extortion and money laundering scheme.
“These actions are consistent with the OSP’s mandate under Act 959 to preserve suspected proceeds of corruption pending final determination of the case by the court,” the OSP noted.
However, in a statement, Mustapha Hamid’s lawyers suggested they were only seeing the assets allegedly belonging to their client for the first time following publications on the OSP’s official Facebook page.
Predictably, and consistent with the OSP’s “regrettable pattern of trial by publicity”, they said, this publication appears deliberately crafted to create public confusion and unjustly associate their client with assets he has absolutely no connection to.
“We wish to state, categorically and without qualification, that Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid neither owns, partly owns, controls, nor has any form of interest, connection, or linkage whatsoever to any of the assets published by the OSP. None of the assets listed can, by any stretch of evidence or logic, be traced to or associated with him,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the OSP has not once been able to clearly or directly assert that these assets belong to Dr Abdul-Hamid, despite repeated public pronouncements and social media publications.
This silence speaks volumes and exposes the publication for what it is. A sensational diversion, unmoored from fact or evidence, the lawyers said, suggesting mischief and persecution on the part of the OSP.
“We challenge the OSP to act with transparency by identifying the true owners of the assets he has published and to desist from the convenient practice of cloaking ambiguity in the name of “The Republic v. Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others” merely to create false impressions. We take the pain to remind the Special Prosecutor once again, that his statutory duties demand candour, restraint, and professionalism, not publicity stunts or speculative storytelling. Not to engage in media theatrics or to substitute evidence with innuendos.
“To persist in this path is to erode public confidence in an office that was once expected to rise above petty-politicking and perform its statutory mandate with honesty. Our client will not be the scapegoat of such theatrics. Should the OSP remain on this course, we shall not hesitate to respond appropriately, both in the court of law and the court of public opinion. We reiterate, in the clearest terms, that none of the assets or businesses published by the OSP, whether on social media or elsewhere, belong to, are owned by, or are in any way connected to Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.”
In a post on Thursday, November 6, 2025, on X, the OSP confirmed the seizure and freezing of assets exceeding GH₵100 million and US$100,000, including real estate holdings, fuel stations, and logistics vehicles.
The OSP says additional assets remain under active tracing as part of continuing investigations into the alleged extortion and money laundering scheme.
“These actions are consistent with the OSP’s mandate under Act 959 to preserve suspected proceeds of corruption pending final determination of the case by the court,” the OSP noted.
The OSP had earlier announced that it filed fresh charges against Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others. The amended charges bring the total to 54 counts, up from 25 previously.
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and the nine others are facing multiple charges, including extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering, amounting to GHC 291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the accused persons allegedly extorted hundreds of millions of cedis and foreign currency from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the guise of official duties.
In court on Monday, October 20, however, the accused persons were informed of an adjournment due to the judge’s unavailability.
They are expected to reappear on November 13.
The post OSP & Mustapha Hamid caught up in ‘street fight’ over GH₵100 million case appeared first on The Herald ghana.
