In another show of extra-judicial disobedience, the Ghana Police Service has refused to allow Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Agordzor to go home despite a court order two days ago for him to be granted bail.
Information being picked up by Whatsup News indicates that the Attorney General may be planning to file an appeal against the bail order while the police service still keeps ACP Agordzor under lock and key.
This is the second time in less than a year that police has blatantly disobeyed a direct court order. The first one was, Gregory Afoko, the alleged murderer of former Upper East NPP regional chairman Adams Mahama in 2015.
The refusal forced civil society groups such as Occupy Ghana to demand punishment for the individuals exerting extra-judicial powers.
ACP Agordzor is one of the suspects standing trial for allegedly plotting to organise a coup d’état to overthrow President Akufo Addo in what has been described as “Kitchen Knife Coup”.
ACP Agordzor who was granted a self-recognizance bail to the tune of GHS500,000 after his lawyers successfully argued in favour of his bail.
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 Agordzor 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 Agordzor.
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.