GREGORY AFOKO {BUREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS REGIONAL OFFICE ACCRA} vs. ATTORNEY- GENERAL {OFFICE OF ATTORNEY – GENERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ACCRA} [2019]DLSC6200

GREGORY AFOKO {BUREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS REGIONAL OFFICE ACCRA} vs. ATT... [2019]DLSC6200

Date	2019-06-19
Suit No.	WRIT NO. J1/8/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLSC6200

ANSAH JSC (PRESIDING)

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

PWAMANG JSC

MARFUL-SAU JSC

DORDZIE (MRS) JSC

KOTEY JSC

OSAFO BUABENG FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

GODFRED YEBOAH DAME DEPUTY ATTORNEY WITH HIM YVONNE

BANNERMAN (MS.) PRINCIPLE STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2019]DLSC6200
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GREGORY AFOKO<o:p></o:p>{BUREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS
REGIONAL OFFICE ACCRA}<o:p></o:p>[PLAINTIFF]<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ATTORNEY- GENERAL<o:p></o:p>{OFFICE OF ATTORNEY – GENERAL
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ACCRA}<o:p></o:p>[DEFENDANT}<o:p></o:p>[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">

WRIT NO. J1/8/2019&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: 19TH JUNE 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>OSAFO BUABENG FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<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">

GODFRED
YEBOAH DAME, DEPUTY ATTORNEY WITH HIM YVONNE BANNERMAN (MS.) PRINCIPLE STATE
ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <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">

ANSAH JSC (PRESIDING),
DOTSE JSC, YEBOAH JSC, PWAMANG JSC, MARFUL-SAU JSC, DORDZIE (MRS) JSC, KOTEY,
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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>MARFUL-SAU,
JSC: - <o:p></o:p>The plaintiff in this writ before us, is not
questioning the constitutionality of the power of nolle prosequi vested in the
Attorney- General in criminal prosecutions in our courts. The plaintiff in the
main is urging us, through his writ, to determine whether the nolle prosequi
entered by the Attorney- General in his case as an accused person is fair and
just in terms of Articles 11 (7) and 296 of the Constitution, particularly,
Article 296 (c). It is thus important, to make it clear, in this judgment that
this writ is not invoking the jurisdiction of this court to determine the
constitutionality or otherwise of the right vested in the Attorney-General to
enter nolle prosequi in criminal trials.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff by his writ invoking the original
jurisdiction of this court sought the following reliefs: -<o:p></o:p>‘’1.
A declaration that the statutory exercise of the power to enter a nolle
prosequi on the 28th January, 2019, pursuant to S. 54 of the Criminal and Other
Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960, Act 60, by the defendant in the case of
Republic v. Gregory Afoko, Case No. CR 180/16, is inconsistent and a violation
or infringement of Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution and as a result
unconstitutional, null and void.<o:p></o:p>2.An
order setting aside the said nolle prosequi and that the High Court, Accra
should continue to hear the case of Republic v. Gregory Afoko, Case No. CR
180/16 to its logical conclusion.<o:p></o:p>3.
A further order terminating the purported prosecution of the plaintiff by the
defendant in the case Republic v. Gregory Afoko and Asabke v.Alangdi, Case No.
G/AC/DC/B1/05/19 or any further prosecution of plaintiff in respect of facts
arising and forming the basis of the prosecution of the plaintiff in Republic
v. Gregory Afoko Case No. CR 180/16.<o:p></o:p>4.
Any further order that this honourable Court may deem fit for the enforcement
of its orders.’’<o:p></o:p>The brief facts of the case deduced from the
processes filed before this Court, are that on the 21st May 2015,
the plaintiff was arrested on suspicion of murdering one Adams Mahama, after
pouring acid on the said Adams leading to his death. After investigations and
committal proceedings the plaintiff was arraigned to stand trial at the High
Court, Accra for the offence of murder. The trial proceeded and the plaintiff
closed his defence on the 24th January 2019. The trial Judge then
adjourned the case to the 20th February 2019 for addresses by the
prosecution and defence, after wh</main>