Court revokes bail for 3 PNC leaders

THREE Interim Management Committee members of the People's National Convention (PNC) were yesterday remanded in police custody by the Accra District Magistrate Court for failing to adhere to an order of the court.
This court’s decision followed a reversal of their bail bond resulting from their refusal to vacate the PNC's Headquarters at Abavana Junction in Accra as ordered by the court.
The accused persons — Dr Sontim Tobiga, Ahmed Gadu and Baaba Ghana Seidu — will reappear before the court, presided over by Mrs Mary Faustina Addington, on March 3, 2011.
Dr Tobiga was, however, not in court.
The three were arrested in January 2011 following a complaint by the national executive members of the PNC that the three had prevented the national executive from entering the party headquarters.
According to the complainants, the accused persons, with the aid of some thugs, changed the locks on the doors to the party headquarters and prevented the elected officers from operating from their offices.
The police arrested the three from the headquarters and released them on bail after taking their caution statements.
When the case was pending before the court, the IMC members filed a motion at the same District Magistrate Court for the determination of the capacity of four leading members of the party to represent the propriety interest of the party.
They prayed the court to also determine whether Dr Edward Mahama, the 2008 flag bearer of the PNC; Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, the National Chairman; Mr Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary, and Attik Mohammed, a policy analyst, had the capacity of the executive of the party to lodge a criminal complaint with the police.
They also urged the court to determine whether an Interim Management Committee existed to administer the affairs of the PNC.
The plaintiffs also wanted the court to decide whether the national delegates conference held in Bolgatanga on December 1, 2007 to elect national officers and the presidential candidate had been in violation of the PNC’s Constitution, the Political Parties Law, Act 572 of 2000 and Chapter 7 of the 1992 Constitution.
They further prayed the court to determine whether in the trial of an alleged criminal offence the court had jurisdiction to issue civil orders, including the order that the police take control and sack members of the IMC from the regional and national headquarters of the PNC, change locks to the building and reinstate Dr Mahama, Alhaji Ramadan and Mr Mornah to the position of leader, chairman and general secretary, respectively, without giving the plaintiffs, the Greater Accra party executives and members of the IMC the opportunity to be heard.
But when the case was called yesterday, their lawyer did not turn up.