Lawyer for ‘Montie 3’ publicly retracts statements, apologises

Godwin Tamakloe, lawyer for three persons convicted by the Supreme Court
Lawyer for three persons convicted by the Supreme Court of contempt has publicly retracted the offensive statements made by his clients against the Justices.

Godwin Tamakloe expressed sincere apologies especially to Justice Sule Gbadegbe and Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood who were specifically mentioned in the comments.

Two panellists, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson and radio host Salifu Maase were cited for contempt after inciting hatred against and threatened to kill, Justices of the Supreme Court on a political show on an Accra-based radio station, Montie FM.

The host of the programme, Salifu Maase known as Mugabe, the two panellists and owners of the station appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday, July 18.
In the course of the hearing, the Presiding Judge, Sophia Akuffo ordered that the contemptuous tape be played amidst pleas from the counsel of the contemnors against same.

Alistair Nelson told the court he suffered a condition, “kpokpo gbligbli” which forced him to make the contemptuous comments.
The contemnors pleaded guilty and the owners of the station through their counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
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They were found guilty and are expected to re-appear before the court on July 27 for sentencing.
Their lawyer in his contribution on Multi TV/ Joy FM’s news analysis programme, Newsfile, hoped that the court will show leniency in its judgement considering the fact that his clients are first-time offenders whose unguided comments have landed them in the unfortunate situation.
He said the conviction is deterrent enough to his clients and if their Lordships could temper justice with mercy, his clients would not repeat such comments.
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) however indicated on the same platform that Montie FM was set up to push ‘an agenda and to engage in insults and libel’.
Nana Akomea said some other comments made by Mugabe after the court warrants were issued make it difficult for the apologies of the contemnors to be considered genuine.
The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), sided with the lawyer, pleading on behalf of the contemnors. “I want to look at this case from the regret and the remorse they have shown and for me, the conviction alone is enough punishment,” Kofi