Former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has criticised the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, describing the ruling as legally flawed and warning that it could have far-reaching implications.
Tuah-Yeboah said he had not yet obtained the full decision and was relying on media reports, but maintained that the outcome was difficult to justify based on the information available.
“I’ve not had the opportunity of reading the judgment. I’m speaking based on newspaper reports and social media,” he said.
Despite that qualification, the former Deputy Attorney-General said he disagreed with the decision reached by the appellate court.
“I will say without any equivocation that this judgment has no merit. It sets a dangerous precedent and should not be allowed to stand,” he stated.
According to Tuah-Yeboah, if reports suggesting the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction because of defects in the charge sheet are accurate, then the court erred in its reasoning.
“If the Court of Appeal said they are setting the lady free because the charge sheet was defective, then they got it wrong,” he said.
He argued that the charges were not defective, adding that even if the court had identified defects, existing legal provisions should have guided how the matter was handled.
“The charge was not defective. But even if I concede that it was defective, the judges should have adverted their minds to the relevant provisions of the law,” Tuah-Yeboah stated.
He maintained that the appellate court should have addressed the substance of the case instead of ending the matter solely on procedural grounds.
