The High Court hearing the criminal case involving former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Dr Mustapha Hamid has rejected an application by the defence to adjourn proceedings to October.
The application was made against the backdrop of petitions filed by the defence before the Chief Justice, seeking an adjournment of the case to October due to prior commitments by some of the lawyers.
Following the court’s decision, the case has been adjourned to August 18 for the continuation of case management conference (CMC).
Speaking to the media after the proceedings, counsel for Dr Mustapha Hamid, Joseph Kpemka, said the defence had anticipated that the case would be adjourned to October while awaiting the Chief Justice’s decision on their petitions.
He said the defence had petitioned the Chief Justice because some of the lawyers had prior commitments, including engagements outside the country, and were awaiting a response. Mr Kpemka said the defence would follow up with the Office of the Chief Justice to determine whether their request would be granted or rejected.
“We intend to follow up at the Office of the Honourable Chief Justice to find out exactly what the decision is. Whether or not our petition is receiving a positive outcome or a negative outcome. If it is rejected, we have other rights that we can exercise. Nothing is being ruled out,” he said.
The case stems from investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences at the National Petroleum Authority involving senior officials of the regulator. Investigators say that between 2022 and December 2024, some officials of the Authority allegedly ran an extortion scheme targeting oil marketing companies and bulk oil transporters.
According to the OSP, the scheme enabled the accused persons to unlawfully obtain GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47.
Prosecutors say the scheme was allegedly devised by former NPA Chief Executive Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who is said to have introduced the arrangement to Jacob Kwamina Amuah, then Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF).
Investigators allege that portions of the funds were subsequently channelled through various companies and used to acquire lands, houses, trucks for oil distribution and fuel filling stations in an attempt to conceal the origin of the money.
