The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has criticized the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, for publicly disclosing details of an ongoing investigation into the tenure of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB).
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, March 25, Mr Ahmed Shaib argued that the Attorney General’s approach was a departure from standard legal procedures and an unnecessary “public crucifixion” of the accused.
This comes after investigations revealed a network of properties and suspicious financial transactions allegedly linked to Adu-Boahene.
According to the Attorney General, Adu-Boahene allegedly embezzled millions of dollars meant for a cyber defence project and diverted them into real estate investments in Accra and overseas. It was further alleged that he used a private company secretly operated by him and his wife to siphon government funds, amassing significant personal wealth.
However, the Weija-Gbawe MP insisted that the Attorney General’s public pronouncements were inappropriate and irregular.
“In criminal jurisprudence, an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Attorney General is not the investigator, the prosecutor, or the judge. This is highly unprofessional and a serious deviation from due process,” he said.
He noted that legal proceedings should take place in a courtroom, not in the public domain. “If you have a prima facie case, prosecute it in court. Do not try the individual in the media,” he added.
He further noted that transparency in investigations is acceptable but should not cross into publicly declaring guilt before due process is followed. He urged the Attorney General to respect legal protocols, allow the judiciary to perform its function, and ensure that justice is served fairly and professionally.
