THE REPUBLIC vs. HIGH COURT, (CRIMINAL DIVISION) ACCRA EXPARTE: FRANCIS ARTHUR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [2016]DLSC2820

THE REPUBLIC vs. HIGH COURT, (CRIMINAL DIVISION) ACCRA EXPARTE: FRANCIS ARTHUR A... [2016]DLSC2820

Date	2016-07-28
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J5/29/2016
Citation No.	[2016]DLSC2820

DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING)

BAFFOE - BONNIE JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS.) JSC

PWAMANG JSC

KORKOR OKUTU FOR THE APPLICANT LED BY AFENYO MARKIN.

MRS. EVELYN KEELSON (PSA) FOR THE INTERESTED PARTY.

[2016]DLSC2820
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>HIGH COURT, (CRIMINAL
DIVISION) ACCRA<o:p></o:p>EXPARTE: FRANCIS ARTHUR
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J5/29/2016&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 28TH JULY, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>KORKOR
OKUTU FOR THE APPLICANT LED BY AFENYO MARKIN.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MRS.
EVELYN KEELSON (PSA) FOR THE INTERESTED PARTY.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING), BAFFOE - BONNIE
JSC, GBADEGBE JSC, AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS.) JSC, AND PWAMANG JSC<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS.), JSC:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>Before
us is an application on notice for an order of certiorari pursuant to Article
132 of the 1992 Constitution to quash the ruling dated the 9th of
March 2016 delivered by Abdullah Iddrisu J sitting at the High Court, Criminal
Division, Accra; and a further order prohibiting the learned Judge from hearing
the matter.<o:p></o:p>In
the said ruling, an order was made “rescinding the bail granted to the accused
person on the 23rd of November 2013 and remanding the applicant into
prison custody”.<o:p></o:p>The
following are the grounds relied on by the applicant:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;“His Lordship exceeded his Jurisdiction when
he rescinded the bail granted to the applicant and remanded him into prison
custody when the terms of the said bail bond had not been breached by the
applicant.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The ruling dated 9th March
2016 was made in breach of the rules of natural justice”.<o:p></o:p>In
order to appreciate the issues raised, it is necessary to give a brief
background of the events which led to the instant application.<o:p></o:p>The
facts as gleaned from the affidavits filed in these proceedings are as follows:<o:p></o:p>On
the 18th of July 2013, the applicant herein was arraigned before the
High Court, Accra (Criminal Division) on charges of stealing and forgery
contrary to sections 124 and 158 respectively of the Criminal Offences Act 29
of 1960. He was not admitted to bail and therefore remained in custody until
the 23rd of November 2013 when he regained his liberty after
satisfying the bail conditions imposed by the learned trial Judge.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Having
obviously tasted the harsh conditions obtaining in our prisons, he thereafter ensured
that he continued enjoying his freedom by religiously appearing before the
Court on all the subsequent adjourned dates. The same could not, however, be
said of his lawyer who almost regularly absented himself from court on account
of his parliamentary engagements.<o:p></o:p><p</main>