[ 2011-04-14 ]

Dr. Edward Mahama

Dr Mahama, Others Dragged To Court For Contempt
Three members of the People's National Convention
(PNC) have dragged the 2008 flag bearer of the
party and six others to court for contempt of
court.

The three applicants — Dr Somtim Tobiga, Ahmed
Jatoh and Abu Seidu Baba Gana — are praying the
court to cite Dr Edward Mahama, Alhaji Ahmed
Ramadan, Bernard Monah and Attik Mohammed for
contempt of court.

The applicants are further praying the court to
also convict Alhaji Baba Mohammed, Col George Luri
Bayorbor (retd) and Abraham Kaba.

According to the applicants, the respondents
flouted a district magistrate’s court order
which directed Dr Tobiga, his agents and party
members, including the respondents, to vacate the
PNC party office until the final determination of
a case brought against the applicants.

In the said case, the applicants are standing
trial for allegedly causing damage and stealing.

On January 6, 2011, the court directed the
applicants and party members to vacate the party
office until the final determination of the
criminal case.

The applicants’ bail was revoked by the court on
February 24, 2011 for flouting its order to enter
the party office. However, the High Court later
quashed that decision after almost two weeks on
remand.

The High Court revoked the lower court's order on
the grounds that the lower court exceeded its
powers.

An affidavit in support of the application for
committal for contempt deposed to by three
applicants stated, among others, that the
respondents flouted the court's order by forcibly
breaking into the party's office to organise a
press conference.

According to the applicants, the respondents
committed the contemptuous action on January 18,
2011 which was subsequently captured on national
television.

The affidavit in support further stated that the
respondents, who are mostly parties in the
criminal case, had knowledge of the January 6,
2011 order and for that reason they had mocked the
said order.

"The conduct of the respondents, as described
herein, amounts to the showing of gross
disrespect, disregard of the authority and
prestige of this honourable court and brought the
administration of justice into disrepute and
should be held and punished accordingly for
contempt of court as a lesson to others," the
affidavit in support stressed.

The application is expected to be moved on April
20, 2011.

Source - Daily Graphic

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