NSS scandal — Ex-executive director’s case adjourned to March 12
The Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday adjourned to March 12, 2015 the case involving the interdicted former Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Alhaji Imoro Alhassan.
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The adjournment followed an appeal by the prosecution for more time for investigators to complete investigations into the case in which Alhaji Alhassan has been charged for stealing state funds.
The prosecution said because of the complex nature of the case, which involves witnesses from across the country, it needed more time to finish investigations before the bail conditions of Alhassan could be varied.
An Assistant State Attorney, Mr Fred Kusim Awindaogo, prayed the court to maintain the existing arrangement which mandated the accused person to report himself to the investigators every Wednesday.
The lawyer for the accused, Mr Denis Adjei Dwomoh, who held brief for Mr Yonni Kulendi, however, pleaded with the court to review the bail conditions to ensure that the accused person only reported himself to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) when he was needed.
After listening to both sides, the Presiding Judge, Ms Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, adjourned the case to March 12, 2015 to give the investigators time to complete investigations.
Bail condition
Alhassan was granted bail on Nov 17, 2014 and, as part of his bail conditions, he had to provide three sureties, each of whom had to be justified. They had to collectively own property worth GH¢1 million.
He was also directed to surrender his passport to the BNI until further notice.
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Facts
On November 3, 2014, Alhassan was arraigned before the Fast Track High Court after he had been rearrested, following his discharge by the Accra Circuit Court.
According to the prosecution, the accused was responsible for the posting and placement, raising of vouchers and payment of National Service persons across the country.
In July this year, the BNI received some complaints of malfeasance and began nationwide investigations into the operations of the NSS with regard to the payment of monthly allowances to service persons.
According to the prosecution, investigations so far had revealed that for every month starting from September 2013 to July last year, GH¢7.9 million was paid to 22,612 non-existent service persons.
It said the ‘ghost’ names were generated at the NSS Headquarters under Alhassan’s supervision and he instructed that the names be added to the payment vouchers (PVs).
It said in all, GH¢86.9 million was received by Alhassan from the 10 regional directors of the scheme.