Gentleman Who Forged Minister’s Signature Jumps Bail (PHOTO)
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum can now somewhat heave a sigh of relief following investigations that has brought to fore that an ‘unscrupulous gentleman’ was behind the document alleged to have been signed by the minister to offer an oil block to Miura Petroleum and Gondwana Oil Corporation.
Moments after the ministry was wrongly indicted by some section of the public for awarding the contract, the minister in-charge, came out to debunk the news and made it clear that “Miura Petroleum, a local partner of Gondwana Oil Coporation, is a criminal entity seeking to use forged documents to misinform its anxious shareholders.” 35 year old Charles Andoh, is the man believed to have forged the minister’s signature to engage in a fictitious oil deal. After 48 hours in police custody, he was granted bail but interestingly, he absconded thereafter. An Accra Circuit Court is already hearing the case of forgery brought against Charles Andoh, who is alleged to have forged the Minister’s signature and suspected to be a staff of Miura Petroleum. The court has ordered one Tonya Abela and another – the men who stood as sureties for Charles Andoh – to produce the accused person before May 28. Police said since Andoh was given bail on April 17, 2014, he had never reported to them, even though he was asked to do so daily. The suspect, upon his arrest, was detained for two days and granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties. The ministry has however taken steps to publish a portrait of Charles Andoh to aid the police service smoke out the fugitive. Miura Petroleum is reported to have applied to the Ministry for a particular block for exploration in December, 2013 but was turned down because ten other companies applied for the same block. Six were shortlisted and are pending further approval by the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Finance and Cabinet, before final ratification by parliament. Hon. Kofi Buah reveals that his attention about the forged document was drawn when he realized that although his ministry started dealing with Miura Petroleum in December, 2013, they (Miura) came up with documents which were dated October, 2013. He added that the inconsistencies made them curious and for that reason informed the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to take up the matter. Below are several screenshots of documents to prove that the Minister of Energy has been wrongly accused of being complicit in the irregular awarding of an Oil Block |
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