The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has raised concerns about what he described as growing pressure from sections of the public to fast-track prosecutions, warning that such actions could undermine democratic governance and the rule of law.
He stated, “It is imperative that we make it clear that prosecutions are not influenced by populist sentiment.” “Due process is guaranteed by the constitutional context in which we function. Simply because certain members of the public want it, prosecutors cannot and should not take action.
His comments come in the wake of growing calls for prompt judicial action against former public officials accused of corruption from political analysts and civil society organizations.
The Attorney General emphasized that before any charges are brought in these circumstances, a full and legal investigation is necessary.
“Any attempt to compromise our legal system’s procedural integrity for political reasons is not only dangerous, but it is also ineffective,” Dr. Ayine said.
Although he insisted that his office would look into any plausible allegations of misconduct, he cautioned the public that investigations can take time, particularly when dealing with intricate financial crime situations.
“I cannot prosecute if you have completed your investigations and sent a docket, and the docket is incomplete,” he stated. “They will claim we are incompetent if we go ahead and prosecute and the person is found not guilty and released.”
Additionally, Dr. Ayine cautioned that early or erroneous information might put cases in jeopardy and advised the media to refrain from speculating or publishing in a way that could impact existing investigations or court procedures.
Two fundamental tenets of democratic administration are the independence of the court and the prosecutorial discretion of the Attorney General’s Office. He declared, “We will not sacrifice them for the sake of expediency.”
He went on to say that although his office respected the public’s interest in justice issues, it would not break the law in order to appease social or political pressures.
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