The Judicial Council has petitioned the General Legal Council (GLC) to investigate a former Deputy Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, over comments he allegedly made against the Supreme Court.
The petition, signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo, urged the Disciplinary Committee of the GLC to investigate and apply necessary sanctions against the former Deputy Attorney General.
Dr Ayine is alleged to have questioned the independence of the Judiciary, due to the manner the Supreme Court adjudicated the 2020 election petition, during a discussion on presidential election petitions and their impacts on Africa’s democracy.
Previous contempt
The petition also recounted how Dr Ayine was found guilty of contempt during the 2020 election petition hearing for comments he made at a press briefing suggesting that the Supreme Court had a “pre-determined agenda” to rule against the petitioner in the 2020 presidential election petition, former President John Dramani Mahama.
Dr Ayine was charged for contempt of court and later discharged after he apologised for the comments.
“According to him, the Supreme Court’s failure to apply the rules of procedure as well as the consistent and continuous dismissal of the petitioners’ applications or reliefs were the basis of his assertion,” says the current petition against him.
The petition noted that the comment had displeased the Chief Justice who is calling for investigations to be launched into the matter.
“His Lordship the Chief Justice, therefore, finds this alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate this matter further,” the petition stressed.
