The Criminal Court 4 division of the High Court in Accra has granted bail to former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others after adopting the core bail terms previously set by Criminal Court 3—while introducing key variations designed to tighten supervision and ensure strict compliance.
The court explained that although the previous charge sheet had been withdrawn and replaced with a new, expanded 54-count charge sheet, the accused persons had already undertaken substantial obligations under the earlier bail terms.
As a result, the court held it was “in the interest of justice” to maintain those terms with modifications.
Under the varied conditions, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and Wendy Newman must now report to the Registrar of the Court—not investigators—on the first and last Tuesday of every month.
The Registrar is required to submit monthly compliance returns, and the court warned that any breach will trigger a bench warrant, irrespective of whether the court is sitting.
The three remain on GH¢2 million bail each, supported by three sureties, including one public servant earning not less than GH¢5,000 net salary, and another surety who must deposit documents to landed property. Their passports remain in the custody of the registry.
The remaining accused persons, including company directors and associated entities, also remain on GH¢2 million bail with three sureties, but with a reduced public servant threshold of GH¢3,000 net monthly salary. They must report to the registry on the same bi-monthly schedule until the case concludes.
Pleas taken on 54 fresh charges
Before the bail ruling, the court took the pleas of all 10 accused persons on a new 54-count charge sheet. The charges include: Extortion, Using public office for profit, Money laundering and Conspiracy to commit the substantive offences.
All 10 accused persons pleaded not guilty to every count.
The accused persons include former NPA CEO Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, UPPF Coordinator Jacob Kwamina Amuah, NPA staff member Wendy Newman, company directors Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, as well as PropNest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the First, Second, and Third accused persons allegedly orchestrated an extortion scheme between 2022 and December 2024, unlawfully collecting GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407 from oil marketing companies and bulk oil transporters.
Investigators say the scheme was initiated by Dr. Abdul-Hamid, executed by Amuah, and facilitated by Newman, who acted as the main conduit for receiving the funds.
The OSP further alleges that portions of the proceeds were laundered through the three accused companies to acquire lands, residential properties, fuel stations, and trucks—moves allegedly designed to disguise the illicit origins of the funds.
The prosecution has been directed to file all required disclosures by January 12, 2026, with the Case Management Conference scheduled for January 19, 2026.
