Retired Justice Atuguba Says Bagbin Risks 10 Years In Jail If He Defies Supreme Court Ruling

• Retired Supreme Court Judge Justice William Atuguba has advised the Speaker of Parliament to comply with the apex court's decision
• He said should Alban Bagbin refuse to comply with the Supreme Court's decision on the vacant seat controversy, he could face jail time
• Justice Atuguba said the Speaker could also be banned from holding public office for 10 years if he chooses to resist the Supreme Court

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been advised to consider his next move carefully in the saga of the four vacant seats in the House.

A former Supreme Court Judge said that if the Speaker resisted the court's order, he could face a jail term of up to 10 years or even be barred from holding public office for a decade.

Retired Supreme Court Judge William Atuguba gave insight into the matter in an interview with Joy News.

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According to him, while Bagbin may be displeased with the court's verdict, he must nonetheless comply.

Justice Atuguba’s statement stems from the Supreme Court ruling overturning the Speaker’s declaration of four vacant parliamentary seats after the affected MPs switched sides for the 2024 elections.

The Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who filed the suit, argued that Bagbin should have sought judicial review before making such a consequential decision.

He stated that the Speaker’s failure to do so was tantamount to overstepping his jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court appeared to agree, although its rationale has not yet been declared.

Kpebu urges Bagbin to defy Supreme Court

Meanwhile, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu said the Speaker of Parliament should resist the court's decision on the four vacant seats controversy.

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Kpebu told Citi FM that Bagbin needed to assert Parliament’s independence by challenging the court’s decision.

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He said the Speaker's rejection of the decision over the four seats would strengthen democratic governance and serve as a powerful statement in the future.

Kpebu explained that Bagbin’s decision aligned with the legislature’s authority to oversee its internal affairs and added that unfettered judicial interference in parliamentary business might erode the principle of separation of powers.

He also stated that strong political influences have weakened the judiciary and called for a constitutional review to right the wrongs committed in the past years.

Minority pledges to boycott Parliament

YEN.com.gh also reported that the Odododiodio MP has cautioned the Majority side of the house against recalling Parliament.

He said his side of the House would not appear if this happened as they are busy campaigning for the December 7 election.

The MP added that summoning Parliament would be a total waste of state resources and urged the House to avoid a summons.

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Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh