The High Court’s decision to deny bail to Madam Salomey Awiti Baffoe has been challenged by her legal team, with counsel questioning whether the court gave sufficient consideration to the evidence contained in the police charge sheet.
Addressing the media after the bail hearing, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, argued that the investigative status outlined by the police raises questions about the continued detention of his client.
Honourable Awuah explained that the charge sheet indicated that the police had completed their investigations concerning Madam Baffoe and have reached their findings on her involvement in the matter. He noted that the remaining investigative task related to alleged third parties who were believed to have redistributed the videos at the centre of the case.
Against this background, the Manhyia South MP questioned the basis for requiring Madam Baffoe to remain in custody on the grounds that information could be deleted. He argued that the charge sheet itself did not establish how Madam Baffoe could interfere with information when the police had already seized her phones.
“Per the charge sheet of the police itself, as far as Madam Salomey is concerned, they have concluded with investigations and have established their own findings as far as she is related.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
The lawyer further referred to a previous assertion by the Director General of Police that investigators had already accessed information on Madam Baffoe’s phone. Although the defence has disputed that assertion, Honourable Awuah argued that, even if the police has accessed the device, it weakens the justification for the detention based on possible interference with electronic evidence.
He noted that the phones are in police custody and questioned what further opportunity Madam Baffoe would have to delete information from devices already seized by investigators. For the defence, that circumstance constitutes one of the materials the court ought to have considered in determining whether bail was appropriate.
Honourable Awuah nevertheless emphasised that the defence respects the authority of the High Court despite disagreeing with its decision. He argued that the court has exercised its discretion without adequately considering what he described as vital documentary material placed before it.
The Manhyia South MP therefore reiterated that the disagreement is not with the court’s authority to determine the application but with the manner in which the evidence was assessed. He described the documentary materials as fundamental to the defence’s position and indicated that their omission from the court’s consideration has influenced the decision.
Defence Plans Appeal As Baffoe Remains In Custody
The legal team representing Madam Salomey Awiti Baffoe also announced plans to appeal the High Court’s decision denying her bail as the defence seeks to secure her release. Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, disclosed the next steps while addressing the media after Thursday’s bail hearing.
According to Honourable Awuah, he has received instructions from Madam Baffoe’s family to pursue every lawful avenue available to secure her liberty. He explained that the immediate step would be to file an appeal against the High Court’s ruling.
The Manhyia South MP further disclosed that the defence intends to petition the Chief Justice over the possibility of having the Court of Appeal sit during the judicial vacation to hear the matter. He explained that the request would be linked to exceptional arrangements that have previously allowed higher courts to sit during vacation in cases involving significant questions concerning a person’s liberty.
“We are also going to petition the Chief Justice that, just as in exceptional circumstances it allowed the Supreme Court to even sit during vacation, once it concerns the liberty of a person, we are petitioning the Chief Justice to let the Court of Appeal sit.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
Honourable Awuah indicated that the defence would seek an expedited process once the necessary record has been transmitted to the appellate court. He argued that the record is not voluminous and could therefore be processed without unnecessary delay.
The planned appeal places the detention of Madam Baffoe at the centre of the defence’s next legal steps. Honourable Awuah stressed that the objective is to pursue her liberty through lawful procedures rather than circumvent the judicial process.
Beyond the legal arguments, the Manhyia South MP drew attention to the family circumstances surrounding the case. He explained that Madam Baffoe is the mother of three minor children who, according to the defence, continue to ask questions about their mother’s whereabouts.
Honourable Awuah particularly highlighted the situation of the family’s 15-year-old child, who he indicated remains at home during a period when the teenager would ordinarily be transitioning from basic education into secondary school. He connected the prolonged absence of the mother to the difficulties the family is experiencing during this period.
“We are going to do everything within our power and in accordance with law to ensure that the liberty of Madam Salomey Ewurabena is secured so that she can be joined in reunion with her three minor children.”
Honourable Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
The defence consequently intends to combine its appeal with the petition to the Chief Justice as it seeks an accelerated hearing. Honourable Awuah reiterated that the family’s objective remains the release of Madam Baffoe and her reunion with her children, subject to the outcome of the legal process.
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