Sumaila Abdul Rahman convicted over NDA procurement irregularities

The Tamale High Court has convicted the former Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Sumaila Abdul Rahman, along with three other officials, for their involvement in procurement irregularities. Presiding judge Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah delivered the verdict following a successful prosecution by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The court opted for non-custodial sentences, imposing fines on the convicts instead of immediate imprisonment.

Each of the four individuals was ordered to pay a fine of 1,000 penalty units for each count against them. The court stipulated that if the fines are not paid, the convicts will face a default sentence of four years in prison, with the terms to be served concurrently. In explaining the decision to grant a non-custodial sentence, Justice Ankomah cited the advanced age of the defendants and the swift intervention of the Special Prosecutor, which effectively prevented the state from incurring an actual financial loss.

Defense counsel Sylvester Isang expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, describing the verdict as fair given the circumstances. He noted that the defense had successfully pushed for leniency to avoid custodial time for the former officials. However, Isang also acknowledged that the OSP maintains the legal right to appeal the sentence if they are dissatisfied with the imposition of fines rather than jail time.

The case marks a notable conclusion to an investigation into administrative and procurement breaches at the NDA. While the immediate financial damage to the state was averted, the conviction reinforces the legal requirements for transparency in the management of development authorities. The convicts now face the immediate task of settling their fines to avoid the four-year default prison terms.