We ‘can’t release’ Madina MP to you’ -Parliament to Police
Parliament has expressed its powerlessness to produce MP for Madina, Francis Xavier Kojo Sosu to aid investigations as requested by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Ghana Police Service.
In a letter dated October 28,addressed to the Deputy-Director General of Criminal Investigation Division, F.K. Agyei, Parliament showed that because of restrictions of Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution, Lawyer Xavier Sosu can’t be released for questioning as requested.
“I’m tasked by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to draw your attention that procedures of the third Meeting of the first Session of the eighth Parliament started on Tuesday 26th October, 2021 and having respect to the impediments of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he can’t produce the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter,” Deputy Director of Legal Services, Nana Tawiah Okyir composed in the interest of the Clerk of Parliament.
Likewise, the administrative body noticed that the issue is presently before the Privileges Committee to test “breach of parliamentary immunity and contempt by ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful of the Accra Regional Police Command and the Adenta Divisional Command separately.”
In the mean time, the Police Service has been asked by Parliament to conduct its investigations in tandem with provisions of articles 117, 118 and 112.
Article 117, spells out immunity from service of process and arrest, “Civil or criminal process coming from any court or place out of Parliament shall not be served on, or executed in relation to, the Speaker or a member or the Clerk to Parliament while he is on his way to, attending at or returning from, any proceedings of Parliament.”
Article 118 which likewise ensures resistance from Witness Summons states; “neither the Speaker, nor an individual from, nor the Clerk to, Parliament will be constrained, while going to Parliament to show up as an observer in any court or spot out of Parliament.”
Below is the letter:
The most recent advancement follows Lawyer Sosu’s refusal to turn in at the Police station when he was invited by y police upon protest by his constituents on Monday, October 25, 2021. The showing messed up when protestors hindered a part of the street and set tires on fire.
The Xavier Sosu contended that he had a parliamentary obligation to join in and couldn’t be secured until the Speaker of Parliament is reached.
Lawyer Sosu later reported alleged contempt case of Parliament against two cops to the Speaker of Parliament.
The matter has since been reffered to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for probe.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Sosu has escaped another arrest today when National Security Operatives stormed Sunday Church service.
The attempt by the National Security operatives to put the Madina MP behind bars hits a deadlock when Asawase Lawmaker and Minority Chief Muntaka Mubarak rescued and whisked Sosu away in a private car with the support from scores of church members.
Source: africaneditors.com
