After a roller-coaster battle, the High Court presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden has granted Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Agordzo a self-recognizance bail.
The Court pegged the bail at GHc500, 000 Cedis for the top police officer who is being fingered as one of the masterminds of the curious “Kitchen Knife Coup” to allegedly overthrow President Akufo Addo.
The Police Chief was also instructed to submit his passport to the Registrar of the High Court to discourage any possible attempt to jump bail.
He will also be required to present himself to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of BNI per the schedule presented in the ruling of the Court.
ACP Benjamin Agordzo is one of ten (10) persons charged for an attempted coup aimed at overthrowing the Akufo-Addo administration.
A victorious lawyer for the embattled senior police officer, Martin Kpebu had argued that his client was arrested on November 4, 2019, and has since been in Police custody till date, saying his client is a very senior police officer, he has a wife and children and was therefore not a flight risk whatsoever.
According to the lawyer, the Police administration had finished its investigations and had no need to have him in custody to assist with same. Quoting from the judgement in the case of the Martin Kpebu versus Attorney General (No 2), lawyer Martin Kpebu said the Supreme Court held that the personal liberties of every person is priceless and that includes ACP Benjamin Agordzo.
The Prosecution led by Senior State Attorney Hilda Craig argued against the application for bail but was floored.
Justice Charles Ekow Baiden’s court in its ruling this morning said it is his considered view that in the exercise of the discretion of the Court to grant bail, several facts must be considered irrespective of the nature of the case as per the laws of Ghana, all offences are bailable.
ACP Benjamin Agordzo according to the Court raised very clear reasons why he should not be kept in custody and the State in its statement of opposition did not refute any of the strong points raised by the senior Police Officer.
According to the Court, the State has not been able to prove that ACP Benjamin Agordzo will not make himself available to Stand trial, hinder police investigations, interfere with witnesses of the Prosecution or commit another offence if granted bail.