NPP’s press confabs questioned: court will decide case not media – Lawyer

NPP’s press confabs questioned: court will decide case not media - Lawyer

A Law Lecturer, Mr Godwin Adagewine is wondering why the NPP would resort to the media when they know the media are powerless in deciding the outcome of their court case.

NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo; his vice Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; and chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey petitioned the Supreme Court contesting the results of the December presidential elections. Moreover, the NPP held yet another press conference Wednesday to shed light on the party’s petition to the court.

But speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story today, Mr Adagewine maintained that the NPP went to court with the matter because the petitioners believed the media practitioners cannot make the final determination of the case.

“And so if these things are well known to the NPP and its legal advisors, the question that one may ask is: what is the objective of these press conferences? I don’t have answer to that question,” he admitted.

It is therefore prudent, according to Mr Adagewine, for all interested parties to exercise reasonable restraint to allow the court to decide on the merit of the matter.

“Having gone to court with an issue and submitted yourself and your case to the authority of the court, you show some reverence and respect for that institution, and then allow it to decide the matter according to law. That is the principle that has always guided the practice of law in this country.”

He further stated: “I will wish that we all support the course of justice and exercising reasonable restraint while we await the determination of the matter by the five wise justices of the Supreme Court.”

However, he conceded that whatever happens within the public domain may not influence the outcome of the court ruling.

“Justices per their training, by their experience are supposed not to be swayed by comments outside of the courts; they are to determine the issues of law as addressed to them by the parties in court.”