Mallam Isa closes case, counsel to address court on July 12

Mr Ambrose Dery, Defence Counsel for Mallam Ali Yussif Isa, former Youth and Sports Minister, who is charged with causing financial loss of 46,000 dollars to the state, closed his case after calling one witness.

Counsel will, therefore, address the Fast Track Court on Thursday, July 12. Counsel had prayed the court to grant him a week's adjournment to enable him to adequately prepare his address, but his request was turned down by the court presided over by Justice Julius Ansah, an Appeal Court Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge.

The court said counsel's request for a long adjournment was not necessary and was calculated to delay proceedings.

Mallam Isa who is additionally charged with stealing has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is on a 500 million- cedi bail, with a surety to be justified.

The prosecution, led by Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions, called 10 witnesses.

Answering further questions under cross-examination, Mallam Isa told the court that he did not pass through his house before finally travelling to the Sudan.

He said the Chief Director never questioned him about the missing money. Defence witness, Mr Musah Alhassan Mahama, a building contractor, told the court that he has known the former minister as a friend.

He said he went to the office of the former minister on three occasions. He first went there to congratulate him on his appointment and went for the second time to see if Isa could assist him to get a contract.

Mr. Alhassan said on February 23, he made his third visit to the former minister's office at a time that he was about to travel to the Sudan.

He said he did not know that the former minister was travelling on that day until he went to his office.

Witness said at the office, he saw the green suitcase on his table. He denied that Mallam Isa told him to take the money from the suitcase.

He said he did not open the suitcase and he did not remove anything from it.

Mr Alhassan said when he went to the office he saw Mr Wolarnyo Agrah and Alex Asante.

Mr Alhassan said he accompanied Mallam Isa to the airport in the minister's car, driven by his driver in the company of his bodyguard.