Bail review shouldn't delay Wontumi's release if conditions are met - Martin Kpebu
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has dismissed claims that a recent court action can delay the release of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, insisting that the bail review initiated in court should not override the execution of bail once the conditions have been fulfilled.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, May 31, Mr. Kpebu said the so-called bail review does not constitute sufficient grounds to detain Wontumi further, provided the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is satisfied with the documentation and sureties submitted.
“That process that has been filed in court, I don’t see how it can prevent the release of Chairman Wontumi, if only EOCO is satisfied with the properties that have been produced to them—that is, the document and everything given to them,” Kpebu explained.
He urged the NPP to handle the situation with greater care, warning that the confusion surrounding the process undermines legal clarity and institutional trust.
“There is something—I think the NPP needs to take their time and sanitize this situation. It doesn’t look tidy,” he added.
Wontumi is under investigation by EOCO for alleged money laundering, fraud, and causing financial loss to the state. He was arrested on May 27 and granted bail on May 28 to the tune of GH¢50 million with two justified sureties.
Although his legal team initially struggled to meet the conditions, his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed on Friday, May 30, that all requirements had been fulfilled. However, a fresh legal challenge has since delayed his release, prompting further political and legal scrutiny.
“We encountered some difficulties which will be sorted out on Monday, June 2. We will work towards the desired results. I will stay out of politics and the theatrics and do what is within the law,” Appiah-Kubi told the media.
The case continues to fuel tensions within the opposition NPP, with party members questioning the legal process and the timing of the developments.
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