The Minority has referred to the action by the Hon. Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo as bizarre because, citing that this is a Government that claims to be adherents of the Rule of Law.
Addressing a news conference at Parliament yesterday hours after the courts decision, the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said the development could best be described as a slap in the face of the administration of justice, the rule of law and the judiciary in particular in this Country.
Some 8 members of the vigilante group, Delta Force, associated with the New Patriotic Party were standing trial for taking the laws into their own hands to storm the Ashanti regional security office.
Their action followed the appointment of a regional security coordinator by the President. 8 of them were arrested and arraigned before court in Kumasi.
Attempts to seek for bail proved futile which led to another ransack by other members of the Delta Force.
Their action paved way for the 8 members to escape from the court but later surrendered and went back to continue their remand term.
The court today set free the accused on stating that it did not have enough evidence to continue case.
This, the Minority found very bizzare legal development in the country, especially coming from an AG, “who assured the entire citizenry of her commitment to fairness and strict adherence to ethical principles at her vetting not too long ago, will claim that she exercised the said constitutional discretion on grounds merely that there was a lack of evidence to prosecute the case in question when indeed, the Siting Judge, Court Clerks, Court Bailiffs, Court Warrant Officers (CWOs), Journalists as well as notable public figures in whose presence the said court was physically attacked and the accused persons freed, are alive and available to be interviewed and evidence taken from same.”
“This is a travesty of justice and a lack of respect for the Judiciary. The Executive has a duty to uphold the tenets of the Constitution and in particular demonstrate in conduct and action its respect for the other arms of Government, particularly the Judiciary. Justice delivery will suffer a downward spiral with this uninformed action.”
According to the Minority, the entry of the Nolle Prosequi is a gross abuse of discretion simpliciter, while calling on the President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to “demonstrate leadership and not be led by the various lawless forces within his party.
“The decision by the Hon. Attorney-General is a confirmation of the claim by leading Members of the NPP at the time of the lawless action by the lawless Delta Forces that the culprits will be set free.”
“In these circumstances, we are clear in our minds that the decision by the newly appointed AG to exercise her discretion to file a Nolle Prosequi in this matter is an abuse of discretion, it is capricious, it is an abuse of due process and it is not candid. It was obviously exercised for narrow political expediency.
“Our expectations were rather these hoodlums would have been duly cited for Contempt of Court by now and successfully prosecuted.
“We demand therefore that this cancerous exercise of discretion be reversed immediately and the accused re-arraigned before court without any further hesitation.”
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Source: Sammy Agyei//Frontpageghana
