News:
April 18, 2012
The trial judge presiding over the treason case of beleaguered Member of Parliament for Assin North constituency, Kennedy Agyapong, on Wednesday afternoon declined to sit on the case arguing that she has no powers to adjudicate such case.
Magistrate Court Judge Justice Patricia Quansah was of the view that the case of treason was too heavy for lower court to handle and has thus referred the matter to the Chief Justice, Georgina Wood, for direction.
Hon. Kennedy Agyepong was charged with treason by the police following his explosive statement calling on Ashantes to attack Ewes and Gas residing in the Ashante Region the same way as the Ashantes in Accra are being attacked and denied the opportunity of registering in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise and declaring war in the event.
He has been in police custody for the last 48hours after his inciting comments on his own Oman FM in Accra last week.
His lawyer, Atta Akyea, earlier argued in court that the charge preferred against the MP is wrong. He prayed the court to grant his client bail because his blood pressure has gone high and doctors had to attend to him whiles in custody to save the situation.
Following the inability of the magistrate court to sit on the issue and especially as he’s been in custody for more than 48 hours, the lawyers of Hon. Agyapong have indicated they will head to the Human Rights Courts to seek bail for their client.
If found convicted, Hon. Kennedy Agyepong faces the death penalty.
Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh