(AG) and Minister of Justice, on Friday said the impression created by the Minority in Parliament that the AG was behind the arrest of Samuel Atta Akyea, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South by the police was not true.
He said the AG, Martin Amidu has been out of the country
since July 10, 2011 and has nothing to do with the invitation of the MP.
Mr Odro was speaking at a press conference in reaction to the
recent statement by the Minority in Parliament which sought to suggest that the AG was behind the arrest of the MP, who was on his way to Parliament.
He also debunked the notion by the Minority that the MP was
arrested while he was about to mount a witness box in the same case at the Commercial Court.
He explained that Mr. Atta Akyea was invited by the Police when they met him at the car park of the Commercial Court and invited him to the CID Headquarters to assist them in their investigations.
He said the Police also allowed the MP to sort himself out with
the court before they went with him (MP) and his lawyer to the CID Headquarters.
Mr. Odro said Article 117 was not a blanket provision in the
constitution and that Mr Atta Akyea, who was in court to sort out his case, could not be linked to the work of Parliament.
He said even though the Police referred the docket on the case to
the AG’s Department, their responsibility was to give advice and
prefer the right charges.
He said the AG is not the one who would determine the case but
it would be left to the court to decide whether the MP is guilty or not of the charges preferred against him.
‘We owe it as a duty to any citizen of the country whether
Ghanaian or foreigner to ensure that there is justice for all,’ he
added.
Mr. Odro also said despite the fact there is a civil case
involving Atta Akyea and Joseph Adom pending before the court, it does not stop the AG’s Department from pursuing a criminal case against the MP since a complaint has been made by the plaintiff against the MP. Â Â Continued…Â Â Â
Go here to see the original: