Lawyers of investigative journalist Anas Amereyaw Anas have refuted reports their client has been ordered to remove his signature mask before he mounts the witness box to testify against the embattled football administrator, Kwesi Nyantakyi.
According to the council, such reports lack positive accuracy and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
The lawyers explained in a statement that “the star witness for the Republic, Ahmed Suale, who was one of the investigative journalists in respect of the documentary, was murdered in Madina, Accra weeks before his testimony could be taken.” therefore, “Anas Aremeyaw Anas agreed to testify in the stead of Ahmed Suale on condition that he be allowed to do so in camera or in chambers.”
They insisted the renowned investigative journalist cannot be compelled to testify.
“Anas may choose to testify as a prosecution witness or not. Anas and his Tiger Eye team will continue to wear the iconic face beads as a symbol of impartial anonymity in
investigative journalism and to highlight the extreme risks in that line of duty,” the statement added.
Number 12 exposé
Kwesi Nyantakyi lost his standing, and all positions in local and international football after Anas Aremeyaw screened his exposé, dubbed #Number12 a year ago which captured the former GFA Boss allegedly working out the details of a supposed $15 million sponsorship money for Ghana’s league.
Nyantakyi told the supposed investor, how he [the investor] could be given several government contracts if he paid bribes to some key government officials such as Ghana’s President and the Vice President.
Per the facts of the case, Nyantakyi was paid a sum of $65,000 as an inducement and is alleged to have requested $12 million, which would be shared amongst Nyantakyi and his sidekick, and the above-named government officials.
Abdulai Alhassan, referred to as Abu in the video, is also alleged to have witnessed Nyantakyi signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the said investors, believed by him to be a Qatari company in order to facilitate the transfer of the agreed funds.
He resigned from his positions at the GFA, WAFU, CAF, and FIFA, where he served as a member of the world football governing body’s Executive Council and was later banned from all footballing activities for life.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was directed by the President to investigate the matter and as part of their investigations, they seized mobile phones and laptops of the embattled football administrator as he was formally charged with defrauding by false pretence.
By: Bernard Ralph Adams | MetroTVOnline.com | Ghana
