Proceedings on Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s case took an interesting twist on Monday as the accused was walked out of the courtroom.
This follows an exchange of words between the accused and the Magistrate presiding over the case.
The Lawyer for Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Justice Srem Sai, had raised issues with the jurisdiction of the Ashaiman District Court to preside over a matter that bordered the personal liberty of his client.
He prayed the court to give a ruling on whether the prosecution had adhered to the provisions of the constitution as far as the personal liberty of his client is concerned.
It was his case that the Police are enjoined by the constitution to take his client to the appropriate court for a bail hearing since his arrest on February 11.
This was on the back of the fact that the court, two weeks ago, denied jurisdiction to hear a bail application and remanded the accused into police custody for two weeks. Justice Srem Sai argued that it was pointless for the Prosecution to bring an issue on his detention beyond 48 hours to a district court, knowing very well that the court lacked jurisdiction in that matter.
But the prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare argued that the decision to bring the accused to the district court was because the offense was a first-degree felony which is supposed to go through the process of a trial of the indictment.
According to him, a trial of indictment ought to begin from the district court, where the accused will later be committed for trial.
The prosecution further argued that the Ashaiman District Court was not the appropriate forum for inquiry into the question posed by lawyers of the accused.
The prosecution insisted that the accused should go to the High Court or Supreme Court if he seeks to insist on the personal liberty of his client or suggest a contradiction in the trial process and the process of enforcing the personal liberties of his client.
Srem Sai, who disagreed with the prosecution argued that the responsibility falls on the Police to ensure the accused is taken to a court of competent jurisdiction where his personal liberties can be enforced.
The presiding Judge however reminded the accused lawyers of the restrictions on her in bail applications in matters of the trial of the indictment.
She also advised on the options available to them in seeking these rights at the High Court within the period of the remand.
But the suggestions by the magistrate seemed to have angered Oliver Barker-Vormawor who shouted that he was not at the district court to demand bail.
After minutes of failure to get Oliver quiet since he had not been given permission to talk, the Judge asked him out of the courtroom.
“We have not asked for bail. We have not asked for bail. This is a kangaroo process. The bench has not covered itself in glory. I am not going to glorify a sham. This process is a sham” he shouted before he was whisked outside the courtroom.
The Magistrate then declined jurisdiction on the matter and directed lawyers of the accused to go to the High Court on issues relating to bail.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been remanded into police custody for two weeks and is to reappear on March 15, 2022.
The post Barker-Vormawor sacked from courtroom after exchange of words with magistrate appeared first on Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana.
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