I am not under pressure - Huudu Yahaya

THE General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, has stated that his decision to return the Mercedes Benz 300 DTI car to Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) for replacement was purely voluntary and based on understanding with CEPS.

He said contrary to recent reports by a section of the media, he was neither yielding to pressure from CEPS nor the INTERPOL.

The NDC General Secretary said "the ownership of the car was not in contest, because “I was the bona fide owner”.

“As far back as March, my counsel had indicated to CEPS that we were prepared to return the vehicle for the replacement which they had promised,” Alhaji Hahaya said.

In an interview with the Graphic in Accra on Monday, Alhaji Yahaya explained that CEPS offered to sell him the car in a formal a letter dated, December 1, 2000 for ?28 million, and also gave a deadline for the offer.

“I accepted the offer from CEPS and their terms, and then paid for the vehicle, after which CEPS gave me the title to register the vehicle”, he said.

The NDC General Secretary said if the offer to sell the car was indeed a mistake, "then it was a mistake by CEPS which I must not suffer for ".

He wondered why the former CEPS Commissioner, who authorised the offer, could now turn round to say the offer was a mistake, as is being claimed by the present CEPS administration.

Alhaji Yahaya said he does not recognise the authority of the INTERPOL in the matter because there was no crime element involved in the transaction.

"It was purely a civil contract between me and the CEPS”, he added.

Alhaji Yahaya said if the original owner of the car, Mr Fred Oware, had a genuine case against him, he could have taken up the matter at the law courts, and CEPS would have done the same if there was a criminal deal involved in the transaction.

He said in handing the car over to CEPS, his lawyer requested CEPS to offer an official to escort the vehicle from Tamale to Accra, to guarantee its safety.

He described the recent reports by a section of the media that he fraudulently acquired the car, as a deliberate political smear campaign against him.