The Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has underscored the Attorney General’s commitment to upholding the fundamental right to personal liberty of Alhaji Abagre while maintaining public safety and order.
Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, while opposing to bail in a case in which Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been charged for among other things holding himself as a chief without qualification, cited concerns for public safety, peace, and order in the Bawku chieftaincy conflict.
“On personal liberty, it is the desire of the republic that every person including the accused person is accorded all the incidence of the rights to person liberty as guaranteed by the constitution.
“Except that, the right to personal liberty includes the duty of the republic to maintain public safety, peace and order,” the Deputy AG stated.
Addressing the High Court presided over by Justice Alimah El-Alawa Abdul-Basit on Monday, January 19, Dr. Srem-Sai emphasized that the accused person’s claim to the skin is at the center of the conflict, and granting bail could exacerbate the situation.
“The right to personal liberty includes the duty of the republic to maintain public safety, peace, and order. The Bawku conflict is not new, and it would be unfair to attribute the cause of the long-standing conflict to the accused person,” he said.
However, “the latest version of this conflict is inextricably tied to the conduct and position of the accused person.”
Responding to the allegations from lawyers of the accused person led by Martin Kpebu that, the republic has gone rogue, the Deputy AG said, “the republic has not gone rogue,” adding that a court order authorizing the detention of the accused person is still in force.
Regarding the accused person’s health, Dr. Srem-Sai acknowledged that Alhaji Abagre’s health has not been the best but assured the court that he has access to healthcare in custody.
“I have had conversations with the accused person personally, and he made it clear to me that his health has not been the best, but what counsel did not put before the honourable court is the fact that the accused person has access to healthcare,” he stated.
The Deputy AG urged the court to consider the potential consequences of granting bail, questioning whether peace and safety would be achieved if the accused person is released.
“Would the peace be achieved and would safety be attained even for the accused person himself if bail is granted? The answer is anything but in favor of the prayer,” the Deputy AG said.
Dr. Srem-Sai concluded by praying that the accused person be remanded into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau, where he has access to his family and full medical care.
“We pray that the accused person be remanded into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau where he has access to his family, who have been with him since the day he was detained, and where he has access to full medical care,” the AG urged.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
