BY DANIEL BAMPOE
A dramatic confrontation at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, has brought the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, into an increasingly contentious dispute over an attempted arrest.
The incident, which was captured on video and widely circulated, occurred shortly after the MP had addressed the media following proceedings at the court. EOCO has since confirmed that its officers attempted to arrest the lawmaker as part of an ongoing investigation, while the MP has described the encounter as an attempted abduction.
But documents and accounts contained in the material reviewed for this story point to a dispute that dates back several months, involving an investigation concerning SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, a law firm associated with Baffour Awuah, and questions over whether the MP had properly responded to EOCO’s invitations.
The document identifies the female EOCO operative involved in the encounter as Cheryl Abena Aboagyewaa Jasmine Adjepong, described as working with the Surveillance Unit of EOCO and hailing from Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region. Her mother was said to be an NDC branch executive in the Oda constituency of the Eastern region.
However, a document circulating alleges that she was specifically “released by EOCO” to kidnap the MP and that the operation was intended to divert attention from cocaine-related scandals is an allegation contained in the document and is not independently established by the material provided.
EOCO’s public account describes the September 23 operation as an attempted lawful arrest connected to an ongoing investigation.
At the heart of the matter is an EOCO investigation involving SIC Life Savings and Loans Company Limited, which the document says was represented by the law firm Sarkodie, Baffour Awuah & Partners.
The document makes an important distinction: it states that Lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah himself was not the subject of the investigation. Rather, it was the company represented by his law firm that was under investigation.
According to the document, EOCO wrote to the firm’s then Senior Partner on February 10, 2026, inviting him to appear before the Executive Director or his representative at the EOCO headquarters in Accra on February 17, 2026 to assist with investigations.
The document states that on February 18, 2026, Baffour Awuah responded to EOCO, explaining that he had by then become a Member of Parliament and had therefore referred the matter to the Clerk to Parliament for advice.
That position is significant because EOCO’s subsequent explanation of the September 23 incident says the MP had been invited on two occasions in February to assist with an ongoing investigation but had failed to honour the invitations. EOCO said the attempted arrest was consequently one of the steps it took to secure his attendance.
The documents, however, provide another part of the chronology. They state that a lawful representative of the firm subsequently cooperated with EOCO on three separate occasions — March 4, March 18 and April 30, 2026.
During those engagements, the representative allegedly provided the information requested by investigators.
A formal written statement dated April 30, 2026, was subsequently submitted to EOCO. The document further states that after the firm’s representative completed those engagements and submitted the formal statement, there was no further invitation from EOCO.
The confrontation unfolded after Baffour Awuah had finished addressing the media at the court premises.
According to his account, a woman approached him and informed him that he was required at EOCO.
The MP said he became suspicious about the manner in which she sought to take him away. He alleged that the woman firmly held his wrist and attempted to get him into an EOCO vehicle.
Baffour Awuah said he offered an alternative: he would drive himself to EOCO in his own vehicle. He said the woman rejected that proposal and insisted that he enter the vehicle being used by the officials.
The MP further said he asked the woman to produce identification confirming that she was an EOCO official, but claimed she was unable to do so at the time.
That, according to him, heightened his suspicion that he was being abducted rather than lawfully arrested.
The confrontation escalated as members of the MP’s legal team intervened. Video footage from the scene showed a struggle around the MP’s vehicle before he was able to drive away from the court complex.
EOCO has acknowledged that its officers attempted to arrest him but said the operation could not be completed because the situation escalated.
The agency said its officers assessed that continuing the arrest at that point could have endangered public safety. It also said it had identified two individuals who allegedly intervened to facilitate the MP’s escape and that their conduct was being assessed for possible further lawful action.
Baffour Awuah subsequently went to Parliament, which he described as seeking sanctuary from what he believed was an unlawful arrest.
He has insisted that he is prepared to cooperate with EOCO if the proper procedure is followed. “When EOCO is ready to do the right thing, I will go there. I’m not afraid of anything.”
He has also rejected the suggestion that he drove away because he wanted to evade lawful arrest.
The confrontation also occurred against the backdrop of proceedings involving Salomey Baffoe Awiti, a detained senior nursing officer whom Baffour Awuah represents as legal counsel.
The High Court proceedings on September 23 concerned her bail application. The prosecution requested additional time to respond to the defence’s submissions, resulting in the matter being adjourned to September 24, 2026.
The case is linked to the controversial “Ghana Jollof” TikTok account. According to the material, authorities allege that the account was used to publish content critical of government officials.
Police investigations reportedly linked Baffoe Awiti through phone records and mobile-money transactions to Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, who is alleged to be the principal operator of the account and is reportedly based in the United Kingdom.
Baffour Awuah has criticised the continued detention of his client and has argued that the situation requires scrutiny, particularly because the alleged principal operator is outside Ghana.
Some lawyers have questioned whether parliamentary channels should have been used before attempting to arrest the MP. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, for example, argued that where a sitting MP is required to assist an investigation, communication with the Speaker and arrangements for the MP’s appearance should be considered.
