Extortion charges against Mustapha Hamid baseless – Lawyer Kpemka

Lawyer for former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) CEO Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Joseph Kpemka, says the charges of extortion and abuse of office brought against his client are without merit and will not hold up in court.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, July 18, the former Deputy Attorney General disclosed that the legal team has officially received the charge sheet and is prepared to appear in court on Wednesday, July 23.

“We categorically deny each of the charges,” Kpemka stated. “The prosecution will not be able to establish these allegations during the trial.”

Kpemka questioned the consistency and credibility of the accusations, adding that the charges have shifted over time without any solid evidence.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) recently listed Dr. Abdul-Hamid among seven individuals and three companies charged in connection with a GHS280 million extortion and money laundering case involving the NPA.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s legal team responded with a statement denying the charges and noting that, at the time of the OSP’s press release, he had not been formally served with a charge sheet.

The defense also recalled that in February 2025, the OSP had initially accused Dr. Abdul-Hamid of embezzling GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). After demanding a retraction, he was invited for questioning on February 25 regarding alleged procurement breaches.

The allegations have since evolved, with the amount revised down from GHS1.3 billion to GHS280 million, and now center on alleged extortion and money laundering. The OSP claims Dr. Abdul-Hamid personally received GHS24 million from oil marketing companies and petroleum transporters.

Despite the shifting narrative, the defense maintains confidence in its case.

“We are ready to prove in court that these accusations are completely baseless,” Kpemka affirmed.