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EOCO Rejects Claims of Inaction in Springfield Probe, Confirms Two Active Investigations
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has firmly denied a November 1 report by online portal NorvanReports (also referred to as Novareport) alleging that Springfield Energy CEO Kevin Okyere was detained in Dubai because EOCO failed to investigate a $90+ million fraud petition.
In a statement issued Sunday, November 2, 2025, EOCO labelled the story “false and misleading” and urged the public to ignore it.
What EOCO Actually Said
- Two ongoing probes:
- A petition filed against Springfield Energy (linked to a commercial dispute with Swiss trader Petraco Oil).
- A high-priority case between state-owned BOST and Springfield Energy that could affect national finances.
- Investigations before arrests: EOCO stressed its policy that “investigations must precede arrest and not the reverse.” No arrest or detention order has been issued by EOCO.
- No comment on Dubai: The agency did not deny that Mr Okyere may have faced travel issues in the UAE; it only refuted the claim that any such incident stemmed from EOCO inaction.
Background: The Petraco Dispute
- May 2025: Petraco petitions EOCO, accusing Springfield and partner GMP Energy of diverting $94 million in crude-oil proceeds and misusing a $50 million loan tied to the stalled Afina-Sankofa unitisation project.
- Springfield’s response (June–July 2025): Calls the allegations “false and unfounded,” insists the matter is a commercial contract dispute under international arbitration in Dubai and London, and threatens defamation suits.
- Norvan Reports’ November 1 scoop: Claims Mr Okyere was detained on arrival in Dubai over an unpaid arbitration default linked to the Petraco case.
