The legal counsel for popular evangelist Patricia Asiedua, also known as Nana Agradaa, has sharply criticized the recent 15-year jail sentence handed down by the Accra Circuit Court.
They described it as excessive, suggesting that the court’s decision was influenced more by public sentiment than the actual weight of the evidence presented during the trial.
The lawyer insisted that Agradaa’s conviction was driven by a need to pacify public anger following widespread media attention surrounding the case.
He questioned the basis for the sentence, arguing that the court acquitted and discharged Agradaa on some charges, such as confinement and conflict, due to lack of evidence.
“She was acquitted and discharged on conflict and confinement, saying no evidence was made during the trial. So if no evidence was made during the trial, what basis do you have in your defense? It is indicative of the fact that the court itself agreed with us that it had access to human defense in respect of conflict and confinement… If considerations were given to them, they would not have come to the conclusion that the court gave. We believe that the sentence of 15 years is just excessive.”
According to him, the amount involved in the fraudulent activities is just GHS 540, which does not warrant such a jail term and raises serious concerns about the consistency of the court’s reasoning.
“Even the amount involved is just GHS 540. How can you be alleged to have defrauded somebody for GHS 540 and then be convicted for 15 years? Fifteen years. I’m very clear in my mind that Agradaa has been jailed just because of who she is and not because of what she is alleged to have done.”
Agradaa’s legal team further disclosed that they would be filing an appeal as early as Monday, challenging what they described as a “premeditated” and overly harsh ruling.
They remain confident that justice will eventually be served in her favour.