New evidence resurfaces in Mallam's case

It is being alleged that hardcopy evidence exists that Mr. Worlanyo Agrah, a key prosecution witness in the trial and conviction of Mallam Isa, was lying when he issued a statement to the Ghanaian Chronicle last week, denying that he ever tried to influence the direction of his cross-examination by counsel for the jailed former Sports Minister, Mallam Isa.

Chronicle intelligence learnt that the evidence found its way to the Executive branch of the Government, which then passed it on to the security services for examination to Agrah by the Bureau of National Investigations, may have everything to do with this new evidence.

The records show that Mr. Agrah did contact Lawyer A. Tanko, until recently a partner in the Accra Law firm headed by Mr. Ambrose Dery, a regarded lawyer from the Northern Region, who stepped in to add some bite to Isa's defence after Isa's dissatisfaction with the performance of Alhaji Nuhu Billa, the aging retired policeman/retired circuit court judge.

On the face of it legal opinion is divided whether the substance of Agrah's implicating remarks and comments contained on 'Hardcopy 1' can impact the conviction or merely the investigators for shoddy work and absence of due diligence.

Contrary to what Agrah said, evidence shows that he actually spoke to the lawyer, who is known by the GFA mafiosi, but has no legal contract with them.

Agrah told Tanko that he had not spoken to anyone about his request to him to contact Dery but that it is only Alhaji who knows about this. Could that Alhaji be Jawula, who like Agrah, was favoured by Professor Atta Mills, the NDC Presidential candidate? Jawula is a senior director at the Ministry of Finance.

'Hardcopy 1' also has Agrah confirming that he had cleared the foreign bank account and that he now had only 'fifteen…one five' left in the account.

The suggestion is that Mr. Agrah may have more than one foreign exchange account other than the Legon branch of Standard Chartered Bank.

Questions also linger about the bank balance and whether it received a substantial boost after the famous $46,000 went awalking. Within the portals for the GFA and intelligence community, there is talk of others, besides Agrah, making approaches to Dery since Agrah was desperate to have the subject of his assets and foreign cash exempted from inquisition.

Though Tanko did not make the approach, neither the security services nor Mr. Dery brought the matter up in any substantial way during the investigations or trial itself. And Agrah is on record as saying that the police did not press him on his foreign accounts, on hindsight, a potentially grave omission.

The BNI may turn their attention on the men who actually conducted the investigations for clues in that direction and whether they were accidental or inspired.

Last week, Mr. Dery filed an appeal and moved that the smiling Mallam, who has captured the sympathies of the masses should be admitted to bail.

Was Mallam an ordinary fool caught in the middle of a huge conspiracy by smart alecs or a thief caught with his hand on the till? Those questions still dominate discussions, despite Justice Julius Ansah's sound reasoning and judgment.

'Inshah Alluhu'. Maybe, just maybe 'Allah will…'


The tale of the tape:


Tanko: Hello how are you, it's been a long time since I heard from you.


Worlanyo Agrah: Eh, but you said you will pass by.


Tanko: They said you are leaving the FA.


Worlanyo: Oh! try and pass here, we will be here till Friday. Aah!


Tanko: Okay. Have you seen that when you said I should contact Mallam's lawyer over your foreign exchange account, it was not necessary?


Worlanyo: Yes, yes.


Tanko: Because if I had told him he would have taken you there. Worlanyo: Yes. In fact when we met at Alhaji's place, I was going to comment on that but…(interrupted by Tanko).

Tanko: You were panicking for nothing.


Worlanyo: Yes, it is true. This is an experience.


Tanko: So when you were invited by the police, did they go into that area? Worlanyo: No.


Tanko: So they didn't ask you any questions if you have any foreign exchange account?


Worlanyo: Oh no, no.


Tanko: So why were you panicking like that?


Worlanyo: Ha! ha! ha! (laughed), You see, they didn't ask that question but they asked for our account. Ehee! (laughed).


Tanko: I see, Okay.


Tanko: So apart from me whom you told to speak to Dery, did you ask any other person to talk to him?

Worlanyo: Mmmh! May be Alhaji.


Tanko: No I don't think Alhaji spoke to him about it.


Worlanyo: Aah! It's only Alhaji who knows about this thing.


Tanko: I see, because few people have asked me questions about it and I was getting worried.


Worlanyo: Aah!


Tanko: That is why I wanted to confirm from you to know whether you told anybody else and the person went and raised it somewhere.


Worlanyo: No! no! I don't think so.


Tanko: So how did you find the judgment?


Worlanyo: I thought it was a bit harsh for him.

Tanko: I see. Have you cleared that account? I suppose you have withdrawn all the money from it now?


Worlanyo: It is left with about fifteen in it. Fifteen, one-five.


Tanko: Aah!, okay.


Worlanyo: Yeah, yeah!


Tanko: You mean fifteeeen?


Worlanyo: Eeh (yes).


Tanko: As for fifteen, it is no money.


Worlanyo: Eeh (yes).


Tanko: Okay, so you will be there till Friday.

Worlanyo: Eeh! (yes).


Tanko: Okay, then I will pass by.


Worlanyo: Try and pass by so we can see what to do.


Tanko: Okay.


Worlanyo: Thank you.


Tanko; Then we shall meet.


Worlanyo: Okay.


Tanko; Bye.


Worlanyo: Ya