Authorities in Guinea have withdrawn the appeal case against Elhaji Momodou Sylla, a prominent Conakry businessman, this paper can confirm. The high profile legal battle between the state of Guinea and Mr Sylla began after the state accused him of fraud through the issuing of false cheques.

Hearing on the matter started on 28th December 2007. But, apparently after thorough consideration of the case, the state on 11th January 2008, wrote a letter to the appeal court of Conakry, notifying it that the case against Elhaji Momodou Sylla was being withdrawn.

Reacting to the development Mr Sylla, who is currently in The Gambia, said that the whole thing was politically motivated, adding that a friend of his by the name Foday Bangura, whom he helped to secure the post of Prime Minister, suspected him of harbouring the ambition of taking over from sick President Lasana Conteh and decided to frame him up.

According to Mr Sylla, he has no interest in any political position, adding that whether he would become a President or not is left in the hands of the Almighty Allah. The 48-year-old Guinean millionaire told The Point yesterday at his Futurelec office along Badala Highway that the government accused him of issuing false cheques amounting to 2.5 million US dollars, only for the court to dismiss their claims following testimonies of several witnesses brought to testify in the case. “I told them to take their 2.5 million that they claim I owe the state out of the 30 million they in turn owed me but they insisted on prosecuting me,” Mr Sylla said.

Meanwhile this paper can also reveal that the business magnate, who is on the verge of purchasing five aircraft, owns several businesses around the African continent.