Coup plotters: Defence lawyer pushes for speedy trial

Lawyer for the suspected coup plotters, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, is pushing for a speedy trial of his clients, who are currently on remand.

According to the lead Counsel, a speedy trial of the case that has gained massive media and public attention would engender public confidence in the judiciary.

He made the comments after a court hearing on Wednesday at an Accra High Court.

Nine individuals, including a medical practitioner, Dr Mac-Palm, and five soldiers, have been charged with treason on allegations of plotting to destabilise the country and possibly take over the government.

The accused persons are a high-ranking military officer, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli; Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO 2) Esther Saan Dekuwine, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Ali Solomon and L/Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon.
The others are Donyo Kafui, alias Ezor, a blacksmith; Bright Alan Debrah, a fleet manager, and Gershon Akpah, a weapons mechanic at the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

During the hearing on Wednesday November 20, 2019, State Prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Asare, presented a new charge sheet to the court, which he said, was intended to put all charges against all suspects including ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo in a single document.

Mr Asare further prayed the court that his team required a few more weeks for further investigations to properly indicate to the court their intention on the matter before the commencement of a committal prosecution.

But Adawudu, in a rebuttal, stated that the new sheet does not include any new findings adding that that the 15-month surveillance and gathering of evidence by the BNI before arresting the suspects was enough time for the state to have substantial evidence.

Lead counsel for ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo, Martin Kpebu, associating with Mr Adawudu’s comment stated that the state had a ‘reasonable’ suspicion and thus the posture by the state has “turned coming here to marking register and we can mark register for years.”

Both Lawyers were of the view that the extension equates an abuse of human rights.

Victor Adawudu explaining his stance to the media after the hearing posited that when it comes to proceedings involving the state, there seem to be a deliberate attempt of a slow pace by State Prosecutors.

“When it comes to state proceedings, the state is as equal as an individual. But you know our system, during some of the times the court are slow when it comes to the state. When you are becoming more progressive the system itself becomes someway to slow you down. So we are still saying that what they ought to do and they must be doing, they are not doing it.”

“But I have been saying every time, human rights and good governance are attributes of democracy. And you see, if they actually want to prevent or protect the security of this state, a (high profile) case like this, there should be a speedy trial.” He noted.

He reiterated that, “That’s why my colleague was saying that we just come here to mark register and say because the concept of automatic remand – You come they just remand you. Whether the fact links the people or not, but that is the situation we find ourselves.”

Meanwhile the Magistrate Eleanor Kakra Bans Botwe has ordered that ACP Agordzo be handed over to the Inspector of Police (IGP) adjourning the case to December 4, 2019.