NCA Case’ First Accused Demands Recusal Of Justice Kyei Baffour

The first accused person in the Financial loss case involving four appointees of the erstwhile Mahama Government at the National Communications Authority (NCA) and one businessman, has demanded that the trial judge adjudicating the case recuse himself.

Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie’s demand was officially made to Chief Justice Anin Yeboah in a 20th January petition.

“My documented fear/anxieties about not getting a fair trial under the Lordship Justice Eric Kyei Bffour seems to have been heightened by a recent development as borne out by a video being circulated in the social media which was created by a journalist by the name of kevin Ekow Taylor,” the petition said.

After establishing that his petition is mainly informed by wild revelations by freelance journalist and social commentator, Kelvin Ekow Taylor, Mr. Baffoe-Bonnie said the proper thing to do is for the Chief Justice to commission an investigation into the allegations.

Among the allegations, Ekow Taylor, through his “With All Due Respect” crusading platform had alleged that the trial judge was willingly under the influence of senior government officials, including President Akufo-Addo himself, to ensure that the case ends in favor of the government.

According Kelvin Taylor, Justice Kyei Baffour’s adjudication is a charade and that his court is a kangaroo one conditioned to find the suspects guilty at all cost.

Justice Kyei Baffour, he claims, is doing the bid of the Akufo-Addo government in an ssignment that the regime, which accused the predecessor Mahama government of corruption, but has in over three years not been able to jail one person, use Baffoe-Bonnie and the four other suspects as scape goat.

In the video Kevin Taylor mentions Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo’s niece in the Attorney General’s Department, and National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, as some of the co-conspirators in the plot to do the miscarriage of justice.

Mr. Ekow Taylor, backs his allegations with the claim that he has videos and audio recordings to back them and that he will release them if Chief Justice Anin Yeboah does not remove Justice Kyei Baffour from the case and commission an investigation into his conduct.

Justice Kyei Baffour responded to the allegations by issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr. Taylor who is domiciled in the US.

Citing these things, Mr. Eugene Baffoe Bonnie petitioned that the scenario that has come into play does not engender atmosphere for fair trial and that, even before the allegations by Kevin Taylor, the trial judge’s conduct had been questionable.

“His Lordship Justice Eric Kyei Baffour in one of his earlier court proceedings in 2019 made a statement to the effect the “he represents the state and therefore will not tolerate these foolish applications,” this was when my defence counsel had made an application on my behalf. This allegation made by Kevin Ekow Taylor against justice Eric Kyei Bffour as being compromised has raised some serious concerns/anxieties which will bother on miscarriage of justice if Justice Eric Kyei Bffour does not recuse himself from tjis case. Hence, my humble plea to your Lordship for a thorough investigation.”

Eugene Baffoe Bonnie and four other accused are alleged to have caused financial loss of US$4million to the State through the purchase of some surveillance equipment.