Bawku West Assemblyman Wins Appeal

Patrick Ayaba, the Assembly Member for Teshei in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, has won an appeal at the Tamale High Court.

Mr Ayaba was sentenced to pay 300 penalty units as fine by the Tamale Circuit Court, presided by William Twumasi Appiah.

The complainant reported the assembly member to the police at Bole on December 11, 2016 for stealing his sand worth GH¢400,000 located at a 'galamsey' site at Wasepei in the Bole District of the Northern Region.

The case was subsequently transferred from the Bole District Court to the Tamale Circuit Court.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the matter was referred to the Attorney General's Department, which said that the assembly member be charged with stealing and arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court.

The case was heard at the Circuit Court on 8th March, 2016 and the accused was granted bail in the sum of GH¢300,000.00 with one surety.

Counsel of the accused Lawyer John Ndabugri represented him throughout the court proceedings until September 7, 2016 when judgement was given against him based on the fact that he failed to open his defence.

The Tamale High Court said “it is hereby ordered that certiorari issued to the Circuit Court in Tamale which tried the applicant in CCN/CC.72/16 titled The Republic v Patrick Ayaba and which convicted him and sentenced him to a fine of 300 penalty units or in default serve two years and ordered the applicant to pay compensation to the interested party is hereby quashed.

The High Court further ordered that the fine of 300 penalty units, which was paid by the applicant and translates into GH¢3,600.00, be refunded to the applicant forthwith.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the Assembly member, expressed his excitement about the verdict of the court.

He said he was interested in the justice that had been served rather than GH¢3,600 he paid as fine.

From Eric Kombat, Tamale