Hajia Ibrahim Hamdatu, the former acting Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has declared that until a judgment has been rendered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction, she will not pass judgment on Cecilia Dapaah, the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, as guilty or not guilty.
She remarked how saddened she was to learn about the matter and the numerous criticisms of the former Minister made by others. She recalled hearing someone cautioning all politicians to avoid commenting on the case because the more they politicized and discussed it, the less likely they were to provide the Special Prosecutor with a calm environment in which to investigate the case.
“I heard the news that the OSP denied issuing anything on the amounts found in Cecilia Dapaah’s house. I think the Special Prosecutor’s Office should handle this issue very well because you are the Special Prosecutor and you went there. I was told he went with media houses and we are just getting bits of the happenings, so we can’t even rely on a particular story. We look at social media and today is this story, and tomorrow is something else.
“Because I heard that her account had been frozen and they are saying no. Whatever it is, now that the mater is in court, there is an investigation. And I think we as commentators, our comments should be in such a way that it will not prejudice the outcome of the investigation that the Special Prosecutor is conducting, whiles the ongoing case is in court. I think the news around it is a bit confusing because you read something about it today and then there’s a new bulletin tomorrow saying otherwise.”
Hajia Ibrahim Hamdatu
Before the court would provide its verdict, according to Hajia Ibrahim Hamdatu, things would already become murky. She stated that although some persons claimed money had been found in the residence, others asserted the opposite; adding that occasionally, the general populace carried an opinion.
Discussions On Monies Involved Worrying
Moreover, she asserted that she knew the Special Prosecutor and the Judges involved in the case were good, yet the manner through which people discussed the dollar amounts worried her about the case. She therefore wanted the investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s and the court matter involving the money taken, to be resolved as soon as possible.
“We have an issue where it is alleged that such amounts of money were seen in a Minsters house, how then did the person get that money? That one, the Special prosecutor will be able to establish it. People are now a bit confused about the two issues.
“The Special Prosecutor is handling Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s case concerning the money they saw in the house and the house helps case is been taken care of by the court, reported by madam Cecilia; so, two things. I’m even surprised this court case started even last year. One thing that I’m happy about is the lactating mothers who were given bail to go and breastfeed.”
Hajia Ibrahim Hamdatu
Additionally, the former acting Chairperson of the CPP claimed that she had once seen on social media that breastfeeding mothers should not be granted bail. She said, however, that neither the judge nor the court could deny the release of the lactating mothers on bail.
She stated that mothers had the right to feed their children even while incarcerated. “Even in custody, if you have a child you need to breastfeed, you’re allowed to do that because the child is innocent. There are even cases where babies have stayed with their mothers in prison, which is not good,” she opined.
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