Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has criticised the handling of Ernest Kumi’s court case, alleging that the judge had a predetermined judgment.
The High Court in Koforidua, Eastern Region, on Wednesday February 19 convicted the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, for contempt of court.
The ruling followed his defiance of an interim injunction barring him from being sworn in as a legislator.
Presiding Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe, also issued a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to appear before the court for sentencing.
The court had earlier restrained the MP from presenting himself for swearing-in, pending the resolution of a legal dispute. However, despite this directive, Kumi proceeded to take the oath of office in Parliament.
Citing overwhelming evidence of willful defiance, the court ruled that the lawmaker had acted in contempt.
In an interview on the Channel One Newsroom, Mohammed described the judge’s refusal to listen to or admit NPP lawyer Gary Nimako in court as disrespectful and indicative of bias.
He said “The judge insisted not to listen to and even admit the lawyer Gary Nimako in court. It was so disrespectful.”
He added that this behaviour is regrettable and unfair, as it denies the accused a fair hearing.
“People say that there are always issues of unlawful behaviors, but sometimes some of these cases are found in the law court. He was not heard, he was not listened to, he was not admitted.”
Mohammed expressed surprise at the judge’s outright refusal to recognise Nimako, even after he attempted to present relevant documents and filings.
“I was very surprised sitting in court where a case is called. That was the third case that was called in court. Then when the case was called you know the lawyers will rise and then mention the representation for the plaintiff and then the defendant. So he rose and then the judge says that he is not going to recognize him,” Mohammed explained.
According to Mohammed, the judge admitted in open court that he was referring to the case in question but still refused to hear Nimako.
“He himself admitted in open court that yes that is actually the case he was referring to but he says he will not hear him,” Mohammed added.
He emphasised that the NPP would not insult the justice system but would follow legal processes to seek redress.
“We are law-abiding citizens of this country. We will never lampoon, we will never insult the justice system in this country. We have legal processes that we have to follow, and at the appropriate time our lawyer through the NPP will speak on this particular matter,” Mohammed affirmed.
Mohammed stated that he believes the judge had already prepared his judgment before the court proceedings.
“I think that the judge had already predetermined, he had already prepared his mind to read his own judgment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, the lawyer for Henry Boakye Yiadom, the 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for Akwatia on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that Kumi, will face immediate punishment upon his arrest for contempt of court.
According to Baidoo, the court is prepared to act swiftly to ensure justice is served, regardless of the day or time of the MP’s arrest.
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