By Beatrice Oppong
The Tema High Court has adjourned to March 16, 2022 for ruling on the bail application by Convener of FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker Vormawor. Defense Counsel Akoto Ampaw argued before the Court that the post made by the accused person on social media is a conditional statement which does not warrant the charge of a treason felony. Praying for bail, Lawyer Akoto Ampaw said the accused person’s statement that he will stage a coup if the E-Levy is passed by Parliament cannot constitute a criminal offence because the condition precedent which is the passage of the bill has not occurred.
Counsel for Vormawor, Akoto Ampaw contended that the prosecution jumped the gun to press the charge against his client to make the grant of bail difficult. He argued that the mere expressing of an intention without any activity involved cannot warrant criminal charges especially when there is no evidence to suggest that Vormawor can stage a coup. The Presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Mensah questioned the Defense Counsel if it would be prudent for the state to wait for the incident to occur before taking action.
In response, Mr Akoto Ampaw said his client has not engaged in any activity that threatens the security of the state and that his social media posts are empty talks and not a matter for the public to impose criminal sanctions. He submitted that the accused person meets the necessary requirements to be granted bail and will avail himself to face trial. He strongly opposed the affidavit in opposition filed by the state saying the deponent was not privy to the facts of the case. Mr Akoto Ampaw also refuted claims by the state that Vormawor has no fixed place of abode, adding that the accused person led the police to his residence. This was however opposed by Senior State Attorney Hilda Craig who said Vormawor has no fixed abode and only lodges with people when he is within the jurisdiction.
She contended that the supposed place which Vormawor led the Police to his residence belongs to his friend who is also a lawyer. She argued that Vormawor led the Police to three different places which all turned out not to be his places of abode. Madam Craig was of the view that the accused has demonstrated from his posts that he has every intention to carry out what he wrote on social media.
She also contended that with the severity of the charge against the accused person, she was of the view that he will not stand trial especially when he is often out of the country and has not cooperated with investigations. The Defence prayed the Court to remove a portion of the Affidavit in Opposition filed by the State describing it as scandalous. This has to do with the issue of a woman in the UK refuting claims by the accused person that she is his (Oliva Barker- Vormawor) wife.
Related Post: https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/oliver-barker/2022/
