Immediate former Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has questioned the basis for Martin Amidu's reasons to challenge the constitutionality of the Chief Justice's “Vickyleak” Committee.
According to him, the grounds upon which the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council set up the committee to investigate allegations of judicial misconduct by Nana Oye Lithur in the “Vickyleaks” saga already exists, but is non-functional.
“This committee that has been activated by the Chief Justice (CJ) is not something that she has done anew. It’s a committee that is already in place. The provisions provide for this committee to be activated for this purpose and the membership is even there. That is why the sitting Attorney General even recused herself because it involves the executive and all.
Former A-G, Martin Amidu in a statement issued on Monday, questioned the constitutionality of the Justice Date-Baah Committee which is to investigate claims of judicial influence as claimed by the former Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, in a leaked secret tape recording.
He claims “the Constitution does not entrust any disciplinary power over superior court justices to the Chief Justice or the Judicial Council or to an appointments and disciplinary committee or any other committee of the judicial council.”
But speaking on Metro TV, Nana Akomea opined that, “Unless Mr. Amidu can give us a more concrete demonstration of the unconstitutionality, it’s difficult to understand the basis of his call now”.
The committee was set up after a petition was filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) asking the Chief Justice to probe the allegations made by the dismissed Deputy Communications Minister.
Victoria Hammah had alleged that Nana Oye Lithur met with the Supreme Court judges before the election petition verdict.