The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina Constituency, Xavier- Francis Sosu, has filed a writ at the High Court (Human Rights ), in Accra, asking for an order for stay of all criminal investigations and proceedings against him, by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
The Madina MP also prayed the court to order for the enforcement of his fundamental right to freedom of movement, right to protest and demonstrate, right to personal liberty, right to freedom of expression and right against unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
In the suit filed Tuesday, the MP has also asked for an injunction to restrain the police from arresting him until the final determination of his human rights action.
The case against the IGP is scheduled for hearing on Monday, December 13, 2021.
Mr Sosu is facing criminal charges for resisting police arrest after he allegedly breached the law during a demonstration last month by his constituents, aimed at calling the attention of government to the deplorable nature of roads in the constituency.
He was said to have led protesters to unlawfully block roads and burn tyres, leading to the destruction of properties.
Mr Sosu allegedly failed to respond to invitations by the security personnel to assist in investigations.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has written to the court sitting on the matter that the MP would not be present at hearings as he was attending to parliamentary duties outside the country.
It is recalled, that the Madina MP after taking part in a demonstration by his constituents against bad roads, on October 25, 2021, was charged of blocking roads and destruction of public property, during the protest.
Meanwhile, the Madina MP said that he was ready to appear in court to answer the charges against him.
Mr Sosu told journalists on Wednesday, in Parliament, that “I go to court to represent people, so if I have to be in court, I will be in court.”
He said “You cannot accuse a person if you have not heard from the person because you don’t charge people in absentia. So how you even came by an accusation and a charge is very fraudulent.”
The MP stated that “The police never told me why they wanted to arrest me. The first attempt to arrest me they never provided any reason.”
Mr Sosu said he should have submitted himself to the police, “however, we must be careful not to set the wrong precedent.
He said “I have been a human rights lawyer for the past eleven years and I have been at the forefront of talking about what must be lawful and what is unlawful. Police can arrest and there are basic and legal basis for an arrest by the police.”
BY NORMAN COOPER
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