 Abronye DC.){kind=link}
Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has condemned the continuous detention of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.
Mr Kpebu has called on the leadership of the NPP to appeal to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to withdraw the Abronye case.
According to Martin Kpebu, Abronye’s offence is just a small offence, and he should not stay in custody for one more week.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, Martin Kpebu stated, “This is a small offence that somebody in the position of a regional chairman is not likely to abscond. It’s a small offence.
This is a case that if big people in NPP go to beg the IGP, this case can be withdrawn. Remember that just a few months ago, Christian Tetteh Yohuno was Deputy IGP during Akufo-Addo’s tenure”.
He added, “You can see that he has some rapport with the NPP. If the right calibre of seniors in NPP go to beg the IGP, this case can be withdrawn. He cannot refuse if they beg. This is not a serious case that he should stay in custody for one more week; we can’t allow that to happen in the country. We’re begging IGP Yohuno”.
Additionally, the Lawyer for Abronye DC, Enoch Afoakwa, has revealed his client is on a hunger strike in police custody.
Enoch Afoakwa stated that Abronye is committed to democratic principles and is using the hunger strike to make a point about his treatment.
Speaking after his client was remanded into custody again, Enoch Afoakwa stated, “Abronye is a man full of life. He knows that this is just mere political persecution, and certainly he is hopeful that his liberty will be restored”.
“Yes, he is pursuing what he is pursuing in furtherance of democracy. Certainly, [he is on a hunger strike],” the lawyer confirmed.
He further added, “Once you are being handled this way, will you trust that the same people handling you in a manner as if you have committed a treasonable offence—when they give you water, will you take it? When they give you food, will you take it? Certainly, he needs to protect his life, and under the circumstances, that is the reason he is on hunger strike,” he said.
Additionally, Godfred Yeboah Dame, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has fired the John Mahama-led government following the remand of Abronye DC.
Dame highlighted that even Ato Forson, Collins Dauda and Richard Jakpa got self-recognition bail when he was the Attorney General.
According to Dame, Abronye should have been granted bail because the allegations against him are a misdemeanour.
He asserted that the level of intolerance of the Mahama administration is very reprehensible.
Speaking on the matter, Godfred Dame stated, “The most important thing is that tomorrow the matter is coming up, and I’m sure the court would be minded to grant him bail. Even in the most serious offences I prosecuted in my time, the treason trial, on the very first day, all the accused persons were granted bail.
“I prosecuted very high-profile figures in the NPP: Collins Dauda, Ato Forson, and Richard Jakpa, who has been given a high position in this administration. All of them were granted bail with very, very flexible terms,” he said.
He added, “Ato Forson was given self-recognisance bail, Collins Dauda the same thing, even Jakpa, with all the difficulties, a Justice of the Supreme Court called me and I said let him be allowed to go.”
Dame further called on the government to be tolerant saying, “The level of intolerance of this administration is very reprehensible; it ought not to be condoned in any democracy.”
Meanwhile, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader, has quizzed the Ghana Police Service’s decision to keep Abronye DC in the custody of the NIB for a misdemeanour.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the NIB is not interrogating Abronye, nor are they investigating him.
He questioned why the Police would send Abronye, who is being investigated on a matter which is a misdemeanour, into NIB custody.
Speaking to the media at the Accra Circuit Court on September 12, Afenyo-Markin stated, “The police invited him on Monday, September 8. He responded to the invitation, went with his lawyers, and submitted himself to interrogations. Within an hour of interrogations, he was whisked into NIB custody”.
“Why would the police, investigating a matter and having their own cells, decide to send a citizen who is being investigated on a matter which is a misdemeanour into NIB custody?” he questioned.
He further explained, “Our checks at the NIB confirm that the NIB is not interrogating Abronye. Neither are they investigating him. According to the NIB, they are only the recipient of the man Abronye. In other words, the police sent him there so that they could keep him. That is why they received him. But they are not the ones who are investigating”.
“So the question is, why would the Ghana Police Service claim to be investigating a person and rather decide to send him to NIB cells? Is it to punish him or what?”
The minority leader added, “They kept him the whole of the night and on Tuesday morning, being the 9th, he was brought to court.
“When they brought him to court, the police insisted that they still needed him for further investigation; therefore, they wanted him to be remanded into lawful custody. Of course, the judge upheld the application and remanded Abronye to be brought to court today.