Justices presiding over the hearing of a suit by three lawyers seeking to have the Supreme Court annul the decision of former President, H.E John Mahama’s decision to grant pardon to the ‘Montie Three’ persons who were jailed for contempt have blamed the lawyers for the undue delay.
The seven member panel of judges presided over by Her Ladyship, Justice Sophia Adinyira added that the lawyers failed to file their Statement of Case a year after they were ordered to do so.
According to the lawyers (plaintiffs), Nana Asante Bediatuo, Alfred Yeboah and Elikplim Agbemevah, the delay was as a result of circumstances beyond their control.
The consolidated suit against the Attorney General contends that the then President could not arrogate to himself powers which were exclusively within the bosom of the judiciary under the Constitution.
Their application prayed the court to declare as null and void and of no effect, the purported pardon granted by former President Mahama of a remission of the punishment of a 4-month jail term imposed on Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Masse (“the Montie Three”).
The ‘Montie Three’ were jailed July 27, 2016, following threats, made on Accra-based radio, Montie FM, to kill some judges whose judgments they disagreed with.
Source: Ghanajustice/F.Kyeremanteng
