Lawyer Sam Okudjeto cautions NPP and NDC Lawyers
As the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) headed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to join the electoral petition filed by the Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 Flag bearer and other two plaintiffs, renowned Lawyer Sam Okudjeto has advised the legal teams of the two major political parties to refrain from acts that will create confusion in the country.
He insists they should be careful in the manner they conduct themselves and strictly go by the rules of the Court to protect the nation’s integrity.
“My advice to them is that they should put their sentiments aside and look at the law because the political garments can overcrowd their judgement and actually lead them into the real issue which is before the court.”
He was sharing his expertise in an interview on what appears to be the beginning of a legal tussle between the NPP, the NDC and other interested parties in-connection with the NPP’s electoral petition challenging the legitimacy of President John Mahama’s Presidency.
Lawyer Sam Okudjeto lauded the NPP’s decision to seek legal redress and thus admonished all the major stakeholders involved to operate within the realms of the law.
He also pleaded with Ghanaians to accept the decision of the Supreme Court and move on as one people.
Expressing his opinion on the Peoples National Convention (PNC), General Secretary, Bernard Mornah’s petition to challenge the constitutionality of CI 74 which deals with the no verification no vote aspect of the nation’s reformed electoral laws, Lawyer Sam Okudjeto allayed the fears of the doubting Thomases saying, “The petition was filed in Court before Bernard Mornah attempted to do that, the court can take separate matters, they can do both of them at the same time but I don’t see what it is.”
He added, “In any event when this verification matter was put long ago, why he didn’t do anything about it; is it now that he has awoken to appreciate that the verification was not right, meanwhile it was put there for a purpose.”
Lawyer Okudjeto said the nation’s reputation was at stake in the matter before the Supreme Court for which reason particularly supporters of the NPP and NDC should exercise maximum restraint and have confidence in the Judiciary.
In a related development, the Judiciary Service has rejected the Danquah Institute’s request for a live telecast of the Court sittings.
Responding to the DI’s request, the Judiciary Secretariat explained that after careful considerations, the Chief Justice Theodora Georgina Wood said she could not accede to it because of security considerations.
But the Danquah Institute wrote back to push further stating, “If it is for the personal security of the justices and all we accept but what about live radio broadcast to serve the greater public interest and national security concerns?”
