The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service is on the heels of the embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Adamu Daramani-Sakande. Information gathered by Daily Guide indicates that the Bawku Central MP, who is already battling in court over issues of nationality, is being investigated for allegedly lying under oath or perjury, as well as perpetrating fraud during last year�s general elections.
Daily Guide further learnt that the MP was invited through a letter to the Speaker of Parliament to appear before the CID for questioning at the weekend as part of the investigations. However, lawyer for the beleaguered MP, Egbert Faibille of Kulendi@Law, told Joy news his client refused to talk to the police because the issue relating to his nationality was a subject of a court case, asserting that choosing not to speak to the security agents is allowed under the country�s jurisprudence.�We are apprehensive that any statement we give may end up in the hands of our opponents to be used against us so we prefer to remain silent,� he explained.
Hon. Daramani was last week restrained from holding himself as a Member of Parliament by an Accra Fast-Track High Court through a default judgment, following a suit brought against him by a cattle farmer in Bawku, Sumaila Bielbiel.Mr. Bielbiel accused Hon. Daramani of holding dual citizenship, arguing that under the 1992 constitution, the MP was disqualified to be so elected. Majority Leader, Alban S. K. Bagbin, reportedly told radio stations that Hon. Daramani could not take his seat in Parliament following the court ruling, saying the Marshall will be instructed to drive the MP away should he dare to appear in the House.
However, the MP was in the House and indeed took his seat for about 30 minutes last Friday before Parliament rose for a long recess without being chased out as supposedly promised. The MP�s �triumphant entry� into the House followed a notice of motion filed by his solicitors on July 15 to set aside judgment in default of defence, stay of execution and for leave to file defence.
They also notified the Speaker of Parliament and copied to Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho and Hon. Mike Oquaye, First and Second Deputy Speakers respectively, apparently giving Hon. Daramani the authority to hold himself as an MP, pending final determination of the substantive case. In the motion, which is expected to be moved tomorrow Wednesday July 22, the solicitors contend that one of the cardinal principles of natural justice is that a man must be heard before he is condemned.
They further submitted that the principle will be in jeopardy if the court does not exercise its discretion in favour of their client by granting the application so as to enable him file his defence for the action to be determined on its merits. Advised by his solicitors, Hon. Daramani believed the omission or failure to furnish a defence was due to unavoidable reasons and not out of disrespect for the Honourable Court.
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