Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has questioned the decision of the police to place NPP Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) over a case he described as a misdemeanour.
Speaking to the media at the Accra Circuit Court on Friday, September 12, where Abronye was due to appear, Afenyo-Markin recounted the circumstances of the arrest.
“The police invited him on Monday, September 8. He responded to the invitation, went with his lawyers, and submitted himself to interrogations. Within an hour of interrogations, he was whisked into NIB custody,” he said.
The Minority Leader said that the move raises serious questions. “Why would the police, investigating a matter and having their own cells, decide to send a citizen who is being investigated on a matter which is a misdemeanour into NIB custody?” he asked.
According to him, checks confirmed that the NIB itself was not handling the case.
“Our checks at the NIB confirm that the NIB is not interrogating Abronye. Neither are they investigating him. According to the NIB, they are only the recipient of the man Abronye. In other words, the police sent him there so that they could keep him. That is why they received him. But they are not the ones who are investigating,” he explained.
He went on to question the reason behind the transfer. “So the question is, why would the Ghana Police Service claim to be investigating a person and rather decide to send him to NIB cells? Is it to punish him or what?”
Afenyo-Markin also criticised the handling of the case after court proceedings. “They kept him the whole of the night and on Tuesday morning, being the 9th, he was brought to court.
Also present at the Accra Circuit Court were NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B; former Attorney-General Godfred Dame; former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay; and other party executives.
“When they brought him to court, the police insisted that they still needed him for further investigation; therefore, they wanted him to be remanded into lawful custody. Of course, the judge upheld the application and remanded Abronye to be brought to court today.
Meanwhile, Abronye is expected to reappear before the Accra Circuit Court 9 on Friday, September 12.
This follows his remand in police custody on Wednesday, September 9, after he appeared in court following his arrest on Monday.
