Defying Supreme Court ruling could send Speaker Bagbin to jail for up to 10 years – Justice Atuguba

Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has issued a stern warning to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, over legal repercussions if he disregards the recent ruling of the Supreme Court.

Justice Atuguba cautioned that Bagbin could face severe consequences, including a prison term of up to 10 years, should he fail to comply with the judgment.

The Supreme Court, by a 5-2 majority decision on Tuesday, overturned Speaker Bagbin’s earlier declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, effectively restoring the original status of the affected Members of Parliament. This ruling has created a tense atmosphere, with concerns over how the Speaker might respond.

In an interview with JoyNews, Justice Atuguba, who once served as acting Chief Justice, emphasised that the Speaker is legally bound to adhere to the Supreme Court’s decision.

“Based on the Supreme Court's ruling, he is bound by the decision. If he defies it, the consequences are serious,” Justice Atuguba noted.

He elaborated that while the potential jail term is not fixed at 10 years, it could extend up to that duration, depending on the circumstances. He added that Bagbin could face disqualification from holding any public office for a period of 10 years.

“It is not necessarily 10 years; the Speaker must serve a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years. Furthermore, he could face a 10-year disqualification from public office. The same applies if you are a president; you could be liable to removal,” Justice Atuguba explained.