A High Court in Accra has expressed concern about the absence of former Minister for Works and Housing, Collins Dauda, who is on trial for causing financial loss to the state, and how he was able to travel to South Africa without his passport.
The court had ordered Mr Dauda to deposit his passport with the court’s registrar as part of his bail conditions. Dauda’s counsel explained that the MP received an emergency invitation for a pan-African conference in South Africa, and the absence was not deliberate.
The court questioned how he could travel without his passport and was informed that an application for its release had been filed.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, expressed surprise and concern about how the accused, Collins Dauda, was able to travel to South Africa without his passport, considering it was supposed to be deposited with the court’s registry as part of his bail conditions.
Mr Dauda’s counsel explained that an application for the release of the passport had been filed, but travel arrangements were made before the hearing of the application. The court had ordered Dauda to deposit his passport and inform the court when he needed it, and the prosecution questioned the circumstances of his travel without notifying the court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, expressed displeasure at the accused, Collins Dauda, traveling to South Africa without notifying the court, given that he was required to deposit his passport as part of his bail conditions.
The defense counsel explained that the travel notice came abruptly, and an application for the release of the passport had been filed but needed to be processed before Dauda’s departure.
The prosecution raised concerns about Dauda’s ability to travel without his passport and questioned the circumstances. Despite objections by the defense, the prosecution began its case by calling its first witness, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing.
The case was adjourned for the witness to read his statement.