Embattled Deputy Communications Director Sammy Awuku has been banned from attending the hearing of the Presidential Election Petition for misconduct.
The judges gave the ruling after concession by Awuku that his comments on Peace FM which criticised the final touch line warning by the bench went over board.
Sammy Awuku ‘tendered’ himself before the court retracting and apologising for the comments.
The comments criticized the judges for being selective in their query and final touchline warning to the media.
His comments did not go down well with the judges and when hearing resumed on Wednesday, President of the Panel asked if Sammy Awuku was in court.
He was not apparently, and so proceedings for the day had to go on. After lunch, the court resumed sitting with Sammy Awuku making an appearance.
He was asked by Atuguba if he had anything to say.
The Deputy Communications Director retracted the comments and offered an unqualified apology.
The Bar, beginning with Philip Addison apologised on behalf of Awuku. He had apparently together with the Respondent lawyers gone to meet the bench in chambers to apologise on behalf of Awuku.
In open court, the Respondents also joined the chorus pleading for the judges to tamper justice with mercy.
The judges retired to ponder over the matter and came with a ruling.
President William Atuguba said having considered the candid admission by Sammy Awuku and the apology issued, they have decided not to invoke their powers of contempt but to restrict his appearance to court.
He ruled that hencforth, Sammy Awuku has been banned from making an appearance to court and that is the beginning of punitive measures against all others who have decided to disrespect the authority of the judges.
