EOCO files appeal on GFA raid damages

Accra, July 5, GNA - The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has filed an appeal in respect of the ruling of the Human Rights Court ordering it to pay GH¢50,000 to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as damages for its raid on the Association's offices.

The EOCO has therefore filed a motion to stay execution of the ruling pending an appeal before the Human Rights Court.

At the Human Rights Court on Tuesday, EOCO's lawyer, Dr Philip Anderson, prayed the court to grant stay of execution pending the appeal which is yet to be heard by the Court of Appeal.

Citing the Rules of the Court, he said there had been some developments after the court's judgment hence the need for the court to stay the execution of its orders.

He said EOCO, which was a public institution, could not pay the said damages to the GFA adding that such a payment might cripple the organization.

Dr Anderson further prayed the court not to 93shut the door of justice" on EOCO because the office was not financially sound to pay the damages.

He said under the Rule 27 of CI 19 93the court in interlocutory appeal, civil or criminal, before it grants stay of proceedings pending the determination of the interlocutory appeal subject to the conditions considers fit".

Mr Thaddeus Sory, who represented the GFA, objected to EOCO's application and prayed the court not to entertain the motion since the application did not properly invoke the court's jurisdiction. The court slated July 19 for its ruling.

On May 13, the Human Rights Court slapped on the sum of GH¢50,000 on EOCO as damages to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the raid

This was after it had ruled that the EOCO's actions were not proper. Personnel of the EOCO on December 7, 2010, raided the premises of the Ghana Football Association and made away with vital documents and nine computers.

The raid was said to have been carried out to facilitate investigations into alleged financial malfeasance by officials of the GFA.