Former Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has justified the tried arrest of the MP for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, by operatives of the Nationwide Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Based on Vanderpuye, the earlier administration of the New Patriotic Celebration (NPP) harassed and abused him throughout election-related violence in 2020, regardless of his place as a sitting MP.
On Wednesday, 9 April, about 20 operatives from the NIB stormed Mr Ntim Fordjour’s residence to arrest him in connection with his allegations involving two suspicious drug-trafficking flights within the nation.
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The event was instantly met with indignant reactions from NPP MPs, nationwide executives, and supporters, who gathered at the lawmaker’s house to prevent the arrest.
Nonetheless, reacting to the incident in an interview on Channel One TV, Mr Vanderpuye said that the NIB’s actions had been consistent with due course of and didn’t breach the lawmaker’s parliamentary privileges.
He argued:
I used to be handcuffed and put within the boot of a automotive as a sitting member of Parliament on 7 December 2020 and dumped on the regional police command. I collapsed; I don’t know what occurred till seven hours later.
Fifty-two of my officers, my celebration officers, had been arrested. My polling agent was shot and killed. As much as at the moment, 5 years down the road, my boys are nonetheless in courtroom, whereas those that did the capturing are strolling free.
He added:
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The honourable Member of Parliament isn’t in Parliament at this second in time. The invitation to the Speaker solely applies when there’s a parliamentary sitting. The truth that you might be an MP doesn’t absolve you from being arrested.
Once you commit a criminal offense, it’s solely a privilege that you’ve got, and that privilege is exercised via the Speaker.
In the meantime, the incident has been condemned by a number of members of the NPP, together with former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has cautioned President John Mahama in opposition to intimidating political opponents.
