Explain rationale behind new charges slapped on Agordzo, others – ASEPA to AG

The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) wants the Attorney General, Mr. Godfred Dame to provide details on new charges slapped on ACP Benjamin Agordzo and the others accused of being involved in a plot to destabilise the country.

According to the group, the disclosure will ensure a fair trial for the accused persons.

The accused persons were rearrested on Friday, April 23, 2021, by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and slapped with fresh charges, including high treason.

The Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has explained the new charges “clearly fit” the offences the defendants are being accused of committing.

“I think the point must be made that the Attorney General’s power to continue all criminal prosecutions is unfettered and the Supreme Court has said so clearly. Of course, that is not to suggest that the AG will be exercising that power at any point in time unjustifiably.”

“So in the exercise of that power, I discontinued the earlier criminal matter, and they have been properly arraigned before the court for the offence of high treason. And we think that the offence of high treason clearly fits the acts they have committed, and we are ready to prosecute them for those charges.”

But ASEPA in a statement insisted that the AG must give additional reasons for the new charges to the public.

“It is therefore imperative that the AG provides further information on the matter to the general public, on the basis of the rearrest of these individuals and the new charges slapped on them.”

ASEPA has also urged the Attorney General to ensure that the fundamental rights of these individuals are respected in the course of the trial.

“We also charge the AG to ensure that at all times during the trial, the fundamental human rights of these individuals enshrined in the constitution are not abused and if any evidence emerges that in the course of this trial, the fundamental human rights of these individuals have been violated in any remotest way, the AG will have serious questions to answer.”

Below is the full statement:

Source: Citinewsroom