Stop the noise and show up in court – Lawyer to Ayariga

A US-based Constitutional Lawyer Prof Kwaku Asare has described as “misplaced” the exchange of correspondences between the special prosecutor Martin Amidu and Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga.

Mr. Ayariga has turned down a June 4 court invitation by the Special prosecutor over the corruption probe involving him.

According to the former Sports minister, he will not be able to attend court on the said date because parliament will be in sessions and he will, therefore, be working for his constituents.

However, Prof. Asare has argued the lawmaker is getting it wrong and must make himself available in court.

“This is noise,” Prof. Asare told Morning Starr host Francis Abban on Monday, 3 June 2019.

He said both parties must stop “personalising the case and making it a political issue” and argue their cases in court.

According to Prof. Asare, Mr. Amidu was under no obligation to write to the legislator to appear in court.

“It was misplaced,” he stressed.

The Special Prosecutor has sued the Member of Parliament for abusing his office among other offences.

This is the first case the Office is pursuing in court since its formation more than a year ago.

Joined to the suit is one Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car company.

According to the writ sighted “Mahama Ayariga aged 44 years in November 2017 at Tema in the Greater Accra Region did fraudulently evade customs duties and taxes by paying GH¢6,062.86 instead of the approved duties and taxes of GH¢36,597.15 to clear three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers.”

He is also accused of allegedly abusing his office as a public officer for his private benefit by “selling three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers with registration numbers GR 2220-18, GR 2221-18 and GR 2222-18 meant to be used for your official duties as a Member of Parliament to Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car at a price of GH¢40,000 each.”