General News of Monday, 4 February 2002

Source: Joy Online

Atta Mills Calls For Probe Into Seizure Of His Vehicles

Former vice President, Professor John Evans Attah Mills has asked President Kufuor to set up an inquiry into events that led to the seizure of vehicles from his residence by security personnel. He has also questioned a directive from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for vehicles allocated to him by the joint transitional team to be re-registered.

Vehicles allocated to the former vice President were confiscated last Thursday and subsequently released on Friday by security personnel, who later explained that the cars were using security number plates.

The BNI later asked Mrs. Mills to change the registration numbers of the vehicles but Professor Mills says there is no reason to re-register the vehicles. In a telephone interview with JOY FM from the University of British Columbia in Canada where he is currently based, Professor Mills said it was wrong for the security agencies to treat his wife like a common criminal.

Describing the explanation given by the security agencies for the seizure of his vehicles as unacceptable, Professor Mills said the vehicles are still state property and it does not make sense to re-register them in his name. He noted that the fact that fuel from the vehicles if provided by government exonerates him from any accusation of theft adding that the security operatives have displayed their naivety by their actions.