A High Court has adjourned the trial involving Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Mustapha Hamid, and his co-accused in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, amid legal tussle challenging the Office’s prosecutorial authority.
The development comes amid a legal battle over the powers of the OSP, including a pending Supreme Court case filed by private legal practitioner Noah Adamtey (J1/3/2026), which seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the office’s prosecutorial mandate.
In court on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, counsel for Mustapha Hamid objected to the OSP’s capacity to continue with Case Management in light of the recent High Court ruling regarding the OSP’s capacity to prosecute without authorization from the Attorney-General.
But the OSP opposed the objection from Hamid’s lawyers, arguing that it had filed a Notice of Appeal and an Application for a Stay of Execution of the High Court ruling.
The OSP insisted that it retains full prosecutorial powers under its enabling legislation, which remains valid and in force, having not been repealed, amended, revoked, or struck down by any competent court.
The court held the OSP’s argument and suspended the hearing of the case until the determination of the OSP’s applications.
The court set the adjourned date to May 26, 2026, awaiting the outcome of the application of Stay of Execution.
Meanwhile, the NPP Minority in Parliament has also called on the OSP to appeal the earlier ruling by the High Court and swiftly seek a certiorari application to quash the decision.
The Caucus called for a expedited determination of the Supreme Court matter, arguing that the uncertainty is undermining anti-corruption enforcement.
