Business mogul, Mr Ibrahim Mahama begged officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Organisation (EOCO) to agree to his pleas for time to pay some GHC 10 million he owes to the state as duties for some heavy duty equipment he imported into the country.Â
Mr Mahama, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and younger brother of former President John Mahama came under investigations after it emerged that 44 cheques he issued as payment for the import duties had failed to clear since 2015.
After several meetings with EOCO, he was ordered to pay an amount of GHC12.7 million which includes interest on the original amount as calculated by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
EOCO's order, it is understood, was communicated to Mr Mahama when he appeared before the investigative body on Friday, 21 April.
Reacting to the outcome of EOCO's investigations, the Assin Central MP who blew the whistle on the matter last month vowing to ensure that the younger brother of former President Mahama was jailed for defrauding the state, stated that Ibrahim was only able to avoid a jail term because he was quick to beg.
"Ibrahim Mahama begged at EOCO to be given time to pay the money he defrauded the state of", a seemingly disappointed Kennedy Agyapong stated.
Speaking on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen on Friday, he also dismissed claims by a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe who is the uncle of Ibrahim Mahama that the investigations into the business activities Ibrahim was politically motivated.
Dr Tamakloe who has been suspended from the NPP had earlier on Friday claimed that President Nana Akufo-Addo was hiding behind the EOCO to persecute his nephew.
But according to Mr Agyapong, it would be better for Dr Tamakloe to shut up if he cannot advise his nephew to pay the amount he owes to the state because Ibrahim deserved to be prosecuted and jailed.
He said, "I have lots of respect for Nyaho Tamakloe so he should keep quiet or rather advise his nephew to pay the debt owed the state. He has defrauded us".
"Ibrahim Mahama has defrauded the state of huge sums of money and needs to be prosecuted", Mr Agyapong who betted his life on a sure jail term for Ibrahim when the matter came up insisted.Â