The Director of Legal Affairs for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Gary Nimako, has strongly criticised what he describes as the deliberate and outrageous bail conditions often imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), particularly under its boss, Raymond Archer.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday, lawyer Nimako expressed worry over the treatment of suspects, describing it as unhealthy.
The concerns follow the arrest and bail conditions given to former Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation Executive Secretary, Dennis Edward Aboagye, popularly known as Miracles.
“But I’m telling you, with what they are doing now, they keep pushing the base of the party against even the moderates. And it’s not healthy; it’s very, very wrong,” he said.
Lawyer Nimako questioned the rationale behind keeping suspects in custody for extended periods before imposing bail conditions that are almost impossible to meet.
“I mean, you can just give the person even a self-recognisance bail. If Miracle is granted bail, where should he run to? He has been walking about in the country. He even travelled and came back into the country. So why keep him for 48 hours and afterwards grant him an outrageous bail condition just to keep him in custody?” he asked.
He warned that such actions send a dangerous signal to the public and could set a bad precedent for future governments.
“So what signal are you sending to the entire population of the country? That is the danger I’m talking about. That is the danger if you are not careful. Then you see a future government in NPP who will say they did the same thing, so you too do it. That is my difficulty,” he added.
Lawyer Nimako described the pattern as a deliberate modus operandi by the EOCO boss.
“After your investigation, it may turn out that you have found something against the person, and it was all a ruse. Look at the damage you have done to the person.
“Then after 48 hours you grant him bail, and that is Raymond Archer’s modus operandi. They keep you there 48 hours. Then, in the latter part of the evening, they give you bail. The bail is so outrageous you can’t meet the condition, and then they keep you there. It is deliberate. It is the modus operandi he has been using since he came,” he asserted.
He noted that he has been quietly observing this trend for over a year and called for it to stop.
“I’ve been very quiet, observing the proceedings. I don’t talk in vain. I’ve been observing this thing for a year and in excess, and it’s the same. When is he going to stop? When is he going to stop?” he questioned.
Lawyer Nimako appealed for a more reasonable and fair approach to bail conditions to protect the rights of suspects while investigations continue.
Credit: Adomonline