General News of Thursday, 7 July 2016
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Alistair Nelson (L) and Godwin Ako Gunn
The Counsel for two panelists who allegedly threatened to kill Supreme Court and High Court Judges says he will bring his clients to face contempt charges although a formal summons is yet to be served on them.
Chris Akumey told Top Story on Joy FM, Thursday that the contempt charges against his clients, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson, are serious and has vowed to give it the attention it deserves.
“We are waiting for the service [of the summons]. But then it is common knowledge as of now that the matter has been scheduled for July 12. We have taken notice of it and whether served or not served as the law requires we will be in court,” said Mr Akumey.
Godwin Gunn and one Alistair Nelson were summoned Thursday by the Supreme Court to appear before it by the morning of July 12, 2016 to show cause why they should not be imprisoned for contempt for “scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing the authority of the court into disrepute.”
Two panelists on a pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) local language radio station, Montie FM, vowed to deal with the Judges whom they deemed to be unduly entertaining the opposition politicians challenging the validity the of the electoral roll.
Alistair Nelson has apologised for the comments, but Mr Gunn has denied the allegations even though the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) says he confessed to making the threats.
The BNI says it picked up the two following the comments because of the current volatile security situation in the country as the country approaches 2016 general elections.
However, speaking on Top Story, Mr Akumey said he was surprised by the BNI revelations because Mr Gunn never admitted making the threatening comments on the life of Judges.
“I can tell you in all confidence that Ako Gunn was not on the programme on that day,” said Mr Akumey.
He said if the Court finds that the utterances by his clients are scandalous, he will be the first to admit to the charge of contempt but added quickly, “we will be in court to provide evidence as to whether we have committed contempt of court or not.’