REPUBLIC vs. LUKMAN AND OTHERS [2003]DLHC1027

Date	2003-02-21
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2003]DLHC1027

ADZAGLI J

K AGBEKO-KRA STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC-APPLICANT.

A Y SEINI FOR THE ACCUSED-RESPONDENTS.

[2003]DLHC1027
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">LUKMAN AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[HIGH
COURT, TAMALE]<o:p></o:p>[2003-2005]
1 GLR 125<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:right;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">Date: 21 February 2003<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>K
AGBEKO-KRA, STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE REPUBLIC-APPLICANT. <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

A Y
SEINI FOR THE ACCUSED-RESPONDENTS. <o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>Adzagli J.
The first four of the accused persons in this case are charged on two counts of
conspiracy to steal contrary to section 23(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Code,
1960 (Act 29) and stealing contrary to section 124(1) of Act 29. The fifth
accused is alone charged with “Dishonestly receiving property obtained by
offence” contrary to section 146 of Act 29.<o:p></o:p>On
7 February 2003 when the case came up for trial the learned state attorney for
the Republic informed the court that they had received a petition from the
employers of the accused persons objecting to the representation of the accused
persons. The court adjourned the case to enable the Attorney-General’s
Department consider the said petition. On the next adjourned date, the Republic
formally raised an objection to the representation of the accused persons by Mr
A Y Seini who is the Assistant Director of the Legal Aid Scheme in charge of
the Northern Region. Counsel referred to section 32 of the Legal Aid Scheme
Act, 1997 (Act 542), and submitted that since the Attorney-General and Minister
for Justice exercises ministerial responsibility over the scheme, it will be
legally and morally inappropriate for Mr A Y Seini who is the Assistant
Director of the Legal Aid Scheme in the Northern Region to represent the
accused persons in a case being prosecuted by the Attorney-General’s
Department. He maintained that law officers of the Legal Aid Scheme are
recruited through selection and interviews by the Attorney-General. Continuing
his arguments, the learned state attorney referred to relevant sections of the
Act and submitted that the regional committee has become non-operational whilst
there is no selection committee at all, and wondered whether he was appointed
by the non-existent selection committee or appointed himself.<o:p></o:p>Replying
to the submissions, Mr A Y Seini admitted that the Attorney-General has
ministerial responsibility over the Legal Aid Scheme under Act 542. He however
denied being appointed as a result of an interview conducted by the
Attorney-General. He drew the court’s attention to the rationale behind the
establishment of the scheme. According to him the scheme was established to
protect the indigent and powerless in the society against the powerful and
resource-laden persons in the country, so as to ensure that the under-privileged
in the society is not denied justice because of poverty. He submitted that if
there is any one person who is powerful and resource-laden it is the State who
is represented by the Attorney-General.<o:p></o:p>Counsel
also referred the court to section 2(1) of Act 542 and submitted that the first
and primary duty of the Legal Aid Scheme is to provide legal assistance to any
person who comes forward for the purposes of performing any functions under the
Constitution, 1992 and that the main person against whom such a claim should be
enforced is the Attorney-General. Counsel also enlightened the court on the
operations of the Legal Aid Scheme generally.<o:p></o:p>Act
542 was passed pursuant to article 294(2) of the Constitution, 1992. Article
294(1) of the Constitution, 1992 mentions the category of persons entitled to
legal aid and for what purpose(s). Article 294(1) of the Constitution, 1992
provides:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"</main>