A Ghanaian citizen, Elikplim L. Agbemava filed a suit to restrain President Mahama from granting pardon to the Montie trio. Government has 14 days to respond to the suit.
The Montie three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase alias ‘Mugabe’ were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court after they were found guilty of contemptuous comments against the court.
The contempt proceedings came after the three threatened the Supreme Court judges who sat on the Abu Ramadan and Gary Nimako versus the Electoral Commission case.
A petition book was subsequently opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) which gathered signatories from government appointees including the deputy minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare and the Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang and members of the general public alike.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah received the petition on behalf of President Mahama and it was forwarded to Council of State for advice.
READ ALSO: Hanna Tetteh signs Montie trio petition
Those who signed the petition argue that the ruling by the court was harsh. But Agbemava in his suit argues that,
He also mentioned that the exercising of the prerogative of mercy must guarantee every citizen some level of fairness.
He is, therefore, seeking an injunction to prevent President Mahama from granting a presidential pardon to the Montie trio, until the final determination of his suit.
The Attorney-General has 14-days to file its response to the suit.