Speaker of Parliament can’t protect MPs from arrest- Prof. Abotsi

Dean of UPSA Law School Prof. Kofi E. Abotsi has said the law just allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to avoid arrest en route to or out of parliament.

He has in this way repelled ideas that the Police need selective authorization from the Speaker of Parliament before any individual from the house can be arrested.

Prof. Abotsi’s shifted understandings encompassing the endeavour by the police to arrest the MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, over supposed alleged bad behaviour.

Talking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Monday 1 November 2021 in Accra, Prof. Abosti clarified that the Police are under no commitment to seek permission from the Speaker before arresting MPs, adding that the Speaker’s endeavor to safeguard the MP isn’t right.

“The limit of police to arrest individuals basically has no restriction by any stretch of the imagination. The constitution has been clear; that limit is simply reached out to the President. Apart from the president, we all are likely to be arrested by the police. The MPs partake in an extraordinary time of insusceptibility and that time of resistance stretches out to the MPs being headed to parliament or in transit out of parliament, so their parliamentary work isn’t impeded.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has declined Police request to release the Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, for cross qiestioning, saying the MP will be occupied with authoritative procedures.

This was after the Madina MP lodged complaints in Parliament blaming two police chiefs for contempt of Parliament.

The Speaker has since reffered the two police officers to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.

“As the conversation continues, I get the feeling of disarray whether, the Speaker should give his authorization. That disarray emerged from the standing requests of parliament, which is an inside working report. It doesn’t best the constitution, so as an issue of functional politeness, police can follow that. Be that as it may, as far as consistence, Members of Parliament can’t be safeguarded by the Speaker of Parliament”, he added.

In the mean time, the MP for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamekpor can’t help contradicting this attestation.

He proposes the Police should give a request to the Speaker in case they are keen on capturing his associate official.

“We can’t say MPs can’t be captured. However, in the event that they are truly disapproved in indicting the matter, they should give a request. Yet, assuming they need to continue with their initial method of investigation into issues , they should get through the speaker”, he said on a similar show.

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Mr. Sosu is an individual of interest for police after he led protest over deplorable roads in his constituency.

During the demonstration, a portion of the protestors hindered streets movements and burnt tires and supposedly destroyed some property.

Police have demanded that these added up to crime and have attempted to welcome the MP to help with investigations.

Mr. Sosu said some cops attempted to arrest him during the protest but was unsuccessful.

Police were likewise answered to have attempted to arrest Mr. Sosu while he was at Church on Sunday however the Police has denied the reports.

Source : africaneditors.com