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The Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has launched a scathing critique of the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, and his Deputy, Justice Srem Sai, following a recent High Court ruling that affects the prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). In a Facebook post, Mr. Cudjoe questioned the decision to transfer the OSP’s prosecutorial mandate to the Office of the Attorney-General, warning that this could overload the already burdened institution.
He pointedly asked, “How are you managing the few cases you’re already prosecuting? Updates on those have stopped. If the courts are causing delays, with the new task of handling OSP cases, are you planning to set up new courts or tribunals, or will current courts work 24/7?” Cudjoe also challenged the legal basis for the ruling, stating, “Sometimes, the law can aid stupidity. This is a classic example. The law, amplified by a berserk ruling, ignores reality. Justice Sai and Dominic Ayine, this is what 18th-century French journalist and scholar Frédéric Bastiat called legal plunder. Good luck!”
His remarks come amid growing debate over the implications of the High Court’s directive, which strips the OSP of its prosecutorial powers. The ruling follows a legal challenge by Peter Archiblod Hyde, an accused person, who argued that the OSP lacked the legal authority to prosecute without explicit authorisation from the Attorney-General, as required by the Constitution and the OSP Act. The court agreed, instructing the Attorney-General’s office to take over all ongoing OSP cases until the OSP secures the necessary authorisation.
In response, the Attorney-General’s office has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the law. In a separate post, Justice Srem Sai assured the public that the Attorney-General would fully comply with the court’s order. “The Honourable Attorney-General has no intention or capacity to disobey or ignore the High Court’s order,” he stated, adding that steps would soon be taken to implement the court’s decision.
The ruling is expected to have significant consequences for the OSP’s ongoing cases, many of which may be delayed or reassigned as a result.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source:Loco tv