Investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI says its Chief Executive Officer will not testify for the state in the Republic vs. Nyantakyi case at the Accra High Court until the Supreme Court rescinds its earlier decision.

Presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the Judge granted an application for certiorari filed by Kwesi Nyantakyi quashing the order of High Court 2, Criminal Division, Accra granting a dispensation to Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify in camera as a prosecution witness in the criminal case.

• Read also: I paid $100,000 to Anas to kill documentary – Nyantakyi 

But in a statement released on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in response to allegations by Mr. Nyantakyi that he paid $100,000 to stop the release of the documentary, Tiger Eye PI stressed that the issue is still in court.

"...Additionally, he [Kwesi Nyantakyi] faces ongoing criminal trial for corruption and fraud at the High Court in Accra. Mr Nyantakyi's desperation attempt to evade accountability could only happen after the murder of the key witness for the state, Ahmed Suale, after his face was shown on national television. A day before his assassination, Mr. Suale was in conference with state prosecutors over the criminal trial of Nyantakyi," portion of the release stated.

• Read also: ‘Number 12’: Supreme Court orders Anas to testify without mask

It added that, "Anas Aremeyaw Anas, now a crucial witness for the state, has opted not to testify following a Supreme Court ruling mandating him to show his face to Mr Nyantakyi and his legal team."

The statement explained that disclosing his identity to the former Ghana FA President and his legal team poses a significant risk to his safety.

"Anas perceives this as a significant risk to his personal safety," Tiger Eye PI noted.

"However, should the Supreme Court grant permission for his testimony without disclosing his identity, Anas is prepared to cooperate fully as a witness to the state."

Find statement below:

Background

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi revealed that he paid $100,000 to investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in an attempt to kill the release of the investigative video that ultimately led to his downfall. 

In June 2018, Anas released a video investigation which captured the 55-year-old along with several other football administrators and officials compromising the integrity of the game at a monumental scale. 

Mr. Nyantakyi, subsequently, resigned from all his roles at the GFA, CAF and FIFA, and was eventually handed a lifetime ban from football, which was later reduced to 15 years. 

However, according to the former CAF Vice President, Anas demanded an amount of $150,000 through his lawyers, to kill the story, but he could only come up with $100,000.

Mr. Nyantakyi explained that Anas’ lawyers told him the amount was inadequate and the video was eventually released.

“Before the video was released, a former colleague at the GFA Exco, Adam Munkaila, took me to Anas' lawyers, a certain Kwame Gyan, a lecturer at Legon. I met him at his residence around Westland and he told me Anas was his student and had informed him that he needed $150,000 to kill the story.

'I gave them $100,000, but they told me the amount was inadequate and later went ahead to release the video," he said in an interview with Captain Smart on Onua TV.

“After the video came out, I asked for a refund and even the refund was done in pieces. Today, they would bring $20,000, and the next day another $10,000. They were giving me stories, but eventually I got everything back,” he said.