Former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has petitioned Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to transfer a criminal case stemming from an alleged shooting involving her and eight other defendants from the Adenta Circuit Court to the High Court, arguing that the lower court lacks jurisdiction.

In a petition dated June 25, her lawyers said the principal charge—intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon—is a first-degree felony that, under Ghanaian law, must be tried on indictment before the High Court.

The case follows an incident on June 21 in which Ms. Safo alleges she was shot multiple times while seated in her vehicle outside the residence of her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who is among the accused.

According to the petition, Ms. Safo sustained serious injuries to the left side of her face, the back of her head, her left ear and lower jaw, with bullet fragments lodged in her skull. Her lawyers also said her Toyota Land Cruiser Prado bore visible gunshot damage.

Police arrested Mr. Akofena and eight others, who were subsequently charged with the use of an offensive weapon, possession of explosives, firearms and ammunition, engaging in vigilante activities, discharging firearms in a public place, and causing unlawful damage. The accused were granted bail of GH¢500,000 each with two sureties.
Ms. Safo’s legal team contends that because the principal offence is a first-degree felony, the Adenta Circuit Court has no authority to hear the case or entertain bail applications.

“Respectfully, the offence of intentionally and unlawfully causing harm with the use of an offensive weapon is a first-degree felony and is triable on indictment before the High Court, not the Circuit Court,” the petition states.

The lawyers have asked the Attorney-General to obtain the police docket, review the matter, and refile the case before the High Court to facilitate what they described as a full and expeditious trial.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Deputy Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the presiding judge of the Adenta Circuit Court, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, and Ms. Safo.

Source:TheDotNews