Defence to call star witness in Bawku Central MP's case

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - Defence Counsel for Adamu Daramani, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central on trial for triple nationality on Monday sought adjournment to enable him produce a star witness in the case.

Mr Egbert Faibille, one of defence counsels, said they would call a United Kingdom-based immigration lawyer, who worked on the MP's citizenship in the United Kingdom.

Mr Faibille said the star witness had indicated to them that he would only make it in late September.

But prosecuting Principal State Attorney, Mr Rexford Anthony Wiredu objected to their prayer demanding that the MP should open his defence.

Mr Wiredu said the accused could open his defence and later call the star witness.

The court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist therefore adjourned the matter to August 23.

Six out of the nine charges preferred against Adamu Daramani, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central over triple nationality was dropped by an Accra Fast Track High Court (FTHC) on July 8th this year and ordered him to open his defence.

This was after the court in its ruling on a submission of no case discharged the accused on prohibited immigrant, forgery of passports, registration offences, two counts of unauthorised voting and registration offences.

It noted that the prosecution was unable to establish those charges, because some were defective and no court could safely convict the MP on them.

The court said the prosecution could not establish that Daramani was not a Ghanaian although the laws of Ghana, allowed dual citizenship.

However, it asked him to open his defence on Monday, August 2 in respect of three counts of false declaration of office before voting, perjury and deceit of a public officer.

It noted that prosecution had been able to establish that the accused was holder of a British passport that would expire in 2014, therefore, the MP owed allegiance to two countries.

In March this year, the prosecution after calling four witnesses closed its case.

However, Daramani's counsel intimated to the court to make a submission of no case.

Adamu Daramani, aka Adamu Daramani-Sakande, aka Adamou Sakande, a Security Management Specialist, was facing nine counts including being a prohibited immigrant and forgery of travelling certificates.

Other charges were false declaration for office; perjury; deceiving public officer, unauthorised voting and other registration offences.

Daramani pleaded not guilty and was admitted to GH¢10,000 bail with surety.

The Prosecution's case was that in 2008, after the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, information reached the complainant, Mr Biebil, a cattle farmer that the accused, who won the Bawku Central seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party had multiple nationalities.

As part of Mr Biebil's civic responsibility, he noticed that Daramani had violated the law, and reported it to the authorities and investigations revealed that Daramani had multiple nationalities.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that Daramani had a Burkinabe passport number C10098625, which was issued in November 1999 and expired in September 2009.

It said Daramani as a Burkinabe, travelled on the said passport to Ghana on March 19, 2004 and departed on March 30, 2004.

The prosecution said Daramani also possessed and owned a United Kingdom passport number 094442650 on which he travelled to Ghana and arrived in the country in December 2005, sought and obtained a Ghanaian Entry Visa with the Ghana High Commission in London.

In addition, when Daramani returned to Ghana in 2007, he managed to secure a Ghanaian passport, thereby evading and abusing the county's electoral system and laws.

The prosecution said Daramani used the same representation to get his constituents to nominate him as Parliamentary Candidate, and was accepted, thereby making them to believe that he was a Ghanaian and filed all the requisite forms.

It pointed out that Article 94 (2) of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana, forbids aliens from contesting elections in the country.