Allotey Jacobs blasts retired Justice Atuguba over his 'scandalous' comment on Assin North MP's verdict
Bernard Allotey Jacobs, the former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised retired Supreme Court Judge William Atuguba for his controversial remarks about the court handling of the Assin North lawmaker James Gyakye Quayson's dual citizenship trial.
Justice William Atuguba made the comments during a public lecture held on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, where he described the Supreme Court's verdict on the dual citizenship case as "scandalous."
In his speech, Justice Atuguba said, "The James Gyakye Quayson's decision by the Supreme Court is, with all due respect, scandalous in that the court, in the teeth of the settled maxim Res Judicata et non quieta movere, re-adjudicated the same matter that has been adjudicated upon by the High court on the merits."
He added, "The Supreme Court does not stand in a good light, with all due respect, in disqualifying Gyakye Quayson, despite his clear certificate of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship as of 26th November 2020, while the elections were held on December 7. I am not able to see substantial justice in this."
Justice Atuguba continued, "If the certificate of renunciation is so mandatory and conclusive, why was it not considered conclusive to qualify Gyakye Quayson when he received it, dated 26th November 2020, whereas the parliamentary election was held on 7th December 2020? Statutes, judgments, and documents must always be applied with consistency, both in the letter and spirit. These must always be construed holistically and as instruments of justice, since it is a well-settled principle that the duty of a court is to do justice, and a court should not be turned away from doing justice."
In reaction to Justice Atuguba's comments, Bernard Allotey Jacobs expressed his bewilderment at the retired judge's statements.
Allotey Jacobs, who is dismissed from the NDC, questioned why Justice Atuguba a respected "no-nonsense man" in the legal fraternity would make such remarks.
"Does he want to be a Running Mate to the leading opposition flagbearer?" Allotey Jacobs quizzed during an interview on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show.