No rights violated: Lawyer defends EOCO over Baffour Awuah detention

National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team member and legal practitioner, Theophelious Dzimegah Jnr, has strongly defended the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over the detention of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, insisting no constitutional rights have been breached.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile program, Dzimegah dismissed claims that the state agency is abusing its powers, emphasizing that investigators are simply operating within the legal limits defined under Article 14(3) of the 1992 Constitution. Addressing the ongoing public controversy, Dzimegah stated:

"I believe that, to a large extent, EOCO is doing its mandate. If you read Article 14(3), it talks about when the person should be brought to court. So as it is now, I don’t think that EOCO has violated his rights, it is not the use of power, but it is what it is that the investigative body needs to do."

Dzimegah stressed that given the lawmaker's senior role at the law firm involved in the suspect financial transactions, presenting himself for questioning was necessary to assist investigators in establishing the facts behind alleged money laundering offenses.

The MP voluntarily surrendered on October 1 following a High Court arrest warrant issued after an earlier confrontation at the Accra High Court on September 23. While EOCO maintains it is preparing a weekend court appearance alongside the Attorney-General's office, the MP's lead lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, continues to deny all charges, maintaining that the funds involved were legitimate legal fees for debt recovery services.