Freddie Blay, 2 Others Escape Jail

There was drama at the Ada High Court on Friday when beleaguered Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Obiri Boahen averted the arrest of Freddie Blay, the National Chairman of the Party.

Two others being the Akrosu Constituency and the Eastern Regional Chairmen of the party were also spared arrest by the police.

The three, had been cited for contempt of court for organizing the Akroso Constituency elections whiles an injunction was pending.

Lawyer for the applicants had urged the court presided over by Justice Justin Gibson K. Agbeze to order the arrest of the trio

The lawyer had argued that the court must issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr.  Blay and the other respondents because they had failed to appear in court.

Rescue

But, Obiri Boahen, representing the party mounted a spirited defense to stay the hands of the judge in issuing the warrant for the arrest of the three.

He contended that the court did not have the capacity to issue the arrest warrant.

Citing Order 50 rule 4 and order 19 rule 4 of the High Court Civil Procedure rule (C.I 47), the NPP Deputy General Secretary explained that, so far as the contempt application has not been officially served on the respondents personally, the court lacked the legal capacity to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the respondents.

The latest twist in the fate of the man who has been referred to the disciplinary Committee of the party brings to the fore Obiri Boahen’s resolve to defend the NPP even at the peril of his life.

NPP Youth

However, a group calling itself the Concerned Patriotic Youth in a statement issued by its Communication Director, Kwesi Kyakye said it is surprised by the commitment and dedication of Obiri Boahen.

According to the group, the NPP deputy Scribe in the face of recent issues “he has not given up despite his sanctions, he is continuing to show the act of patriotism which we the youth are looking for”.

It added: “we were highly astonished when we saw the controversial and ever dedicated Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen walk into the Ada High Court”.

Mr.  Kyakye further stated: “This “divine” intervention of Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen clears the ambiguity surrounding the airwaves and clearly depicts that, the news circulating on news portals that, he has been banned from representing party folks is a fallacy, a distorted and mendacious reportage and as a matter of necessity, we entreat all to disregard and discredit the reportage.”

The NPP Concerned Youth argues that If it had not been for the intervention of Obiri Boahen, the Mr. Blay and the two others would have been in police grips by now.

“We would like to commend the Deputy General Secretary for his dedicated work and overwhelming support to the party and above all protecting our executives from arrest and subsequently going to jail”, the statement noted.

When contacted on phone Nana Obiri Boahen declined comments.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher