General News of Thursday, 25 October 2012

Source: radioxyzonline

Dan Markin’s lawyers deny 50 percent bribery allegation

Dadzie and Associates, Solicitors for UNIEX Ghana’s Executive Chairman, Dan Markin, have denied their client ever demanded as bribe, 50 percent of a judgment debt award meant for Rockshell Limited.

Dan Markin who currently serves as the Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Development Authority is alleged to have negotiated the bribe on behalf of former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani, late Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu and then Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Akufo Addo, who is now the presidential candidate of the main opposition NPP.

The Plaintiff, UNIEX which is a financial and brokerage firm led by Dan Markin allegedly agreed with the defendant, Rockshell, in the payment of the 50 percent bribe.

Since the ENQUIRER Newspaper first broke the story on Monday, there have been clamours for Nana Akufo Addo and the former Chief of Staff to be investigated over the matter.

The Convener of the Forum for Governance and Justice, Dr Clement Apaak, has for instance called on the Economic and Organised Crimes Office to take up the matter.

The head of monitoring and evaluation at the Presidency Dr Tony Aidoo, URP Flagbearer Kofi Wayo and Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt Junior have all called for probes into the allegation.

A statement sent to XYZ News by Dan Markin’s lawyers however says:"Our client however denies all allegations of wrong doing in that case and regrets that "The Enquirer" newspaper failed in its basic duty to cross-check the facts of its story with our client."

The statement also said the case between UNIEX and Rockshell is pending before the Court of Appeals and thus the various media discussions are prejudicial to the matter.

It says the High court ruling on the matter may not be the final ruling and therefore refers to the ongoing media discussions on the matter as misinformed.

The statement further called those commenting on the matter to take a cue from the Supreme Court's ruling on the CI78 despite the "public brouhaha."