Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing, was transported to court in a wheelchair to face 43 criminal charges in the ongoing Saglemi Housing case.
The High Court in Accra had ordered his appearance within 48 hours to respond to the charges.
Alhaji Yakubu, along with other individuals including a former Minister for Works and Housing, was charged with various offenses, including causing financial loss to the state.
Due to his ill health, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu was transported from Yendi in the Northern Region to Accra and brought before the High Court.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges but requested that the trial proceed in his absence due to his health condition.
This led to a debate between the prosecution and his counsel. The presiding judge granted the application for trial in absentia and adjourned the case to June 12, 2023.
The judge also instructed the prosecution to organize their witness statements.
Two former Ministers of Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda and Kweku Agyeman Mensah, and three others, have been arraigned in court over the Saglemi Affordable Housing infractions.
The five were charged on August 5, 2021, with 52 counts, including causing financial loss to the state.
They are facing charges of intentionally misapplying public property, causing financial loss to the state, and issuing false certificates in the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, which involved the sum of $200 million.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, together with Kweku Agyeman Mensah, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Chief Director of the Ministry, Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Constructura OAS Ghana Limited, and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, have pleaded not guilty to all 52 charges.
While Alhaji Collins Dauda was admitted to self-recognizance bail, Kweku Agyeman Mensah and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu were granted bail in the sums of $65 million each. In addition, they were to produce three sureties, one of whom should be a public officer.
Andrew Clocanas, the fourth accused person, was also admitted to bail in the sum of $179 million with three sureties, one of whom should be a public servant. Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, the fifth accused person, was admitted to bail in the amount of $13 million with three sureties.