A Criminal Lawyer, Augustine Obour, has argued that the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu can be cited for contempt of court for making a pronouncement on the criminal trial on going at the court.
The Lawyer speaking on Adom FM’s Morning Show, ‘Dwaso Nsem’ Thursday said the allegation of the NPP Northern Regional Chair that the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari and Gender Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba are ‘deeply involved’ in the murder of the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the party amount to contempt.
According to him, Bugri Naabu per his utterance, is commenting on a criminal trial which is already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Criminal matters have no ending, there can always be new evidences, that is why there is an appeals court…‘deeply involved’ doesn’t mean anything in law…but he can be cited for contempt for commenting on an ongoing trial before a competent court of judicature…,” he said.
Mr Naabu during a media brawl with Ms Otiko Djaba after the Chairman violently disrupted a meeting between the Minister and women’s group in the Northern Region because he was not informed of the gathering alleged that the Gender Minister and the Upper East Regional Minister were deeply involved in the murder of late Mahama Adams.
Ms Djaba in response accused Mr Naabu of taking cows and goats as bribe to offer people jobs.
Mr Naabu has since apologized and retracted his allegation against the Upper East Regional chairman. He has also offered same apology to the NPP.
But the Lawyer argues that although the phrase ‘deeply involved’ is not enough evidence to indicate the involvement of the two, commenting on the case pending before court is contempt in itself.
Contempt, he said, can also arise from some comments that are arising from various radio and public discussions on the matter.
He further cautioned the media to be careful about the kind of comments they pass on the issue as it may amount to contempt.
“Even the discussions on radio forms part of contempt…are people intimating that Gregory Afoko is a wrong person being tried and that the judge does not know what he is doing….?,” he quizzed.
Lawyer Augustine Obour also called on the media to read more on the ruling of contempt cases as there are always new rulings on the subject matter of contempt.