SML drags OSP to Court over office raid, demands $28m in damages

Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) has filed a lawsuit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), demanding the return of its seized equipment and over $28 million in damages over what it describes as an unlawful and heavy-handed raid on its premises.

In a statement of claim filed at the High Court in Accra, SML said that on June 10, 2025, officers from the OSP, acting under a purported warrant, carried out a “heavily militarised and intrusive” search at its offices and seized several items, including servers, laptops, storage devices, and specialised mineral analysis equipment.

The company, which provides data analytics, revenue assurance, and real-time monitoring services to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), said the seized equipment formed the backbone of Ghana’s petroleum and solid minerals monitoring systems.

According to SML, the action resulted in a nationwide collapse of its secure data communication network linking 25 petroleum depots, leading to a complete shutdown of real-time data transmission.

The writ stated that the confiscated servers contained unique software and firmware designed to monitor and authenticate transactions in the petroleum and mining sectors. SML claims the abrupt removal of its systems permanently disrupted security protocols and rendered the infrastructure inoperable.

The company also accused the OSP of breaching evidence-handling standards, arguing that investigators removed entire hardware components instead of conducting a forensic imaging process, which would have preserved both data integrity and business continuity. It further alleged that officers disabled its CCTV systems during the operation to prevent video documentation of the raid.

SML is seeking a court declaration that the OSP’s detention of its property was unlawful, the immediate return of all seized equipment, and compensation for the alleged losses, including damages exceeding $28 million and legal costs.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has yet to file a response to the suit.