TIG Post

Tag: Tamale High Court

  • Here’s why Tamale Court declared Walewale NPP primary null and void

    Here’s why Tamale Court declared Walewale NPP primary null and void

    On September 2, 2024, a Tamale High Court ruled to annul the January 2024 parliamentary primary results for the Walewale constituency, which had initially declared Dr. Kabiru Tia Mahama the winner over incumbent MP Lariba Abudu by a narrow margin of just 7 votes.

    Lariba Abudu contested the election results, citing significant irregularities such as improper handling of spoilt ballots, overvoting, and votes cast by deceased individuals.

    In her legal challenge, Mr Abudu sought either the annulment of the election results or a recount and correction of the disputed ballots.

    Summary of the Judgment:

    Judge Richard Mac Kogyapwah, sitting as a High Court Judge with additional responsibilities as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, presided over the case and delivered a ruling in favor of the plaintiff, the incumbent MP. The court granted three key reliefs which led to the annulment of the January 2024 parliamentary primary results for the Walewale constituency.

    The court determined that the election was marred by serious irregularities and violations of electoral regulations, including the involvement of deceased voters, impersonation, and multiple voting. As a result, the court declared the election results legally invalid.

    Key Reliefs Granted:

    1. 1. Declaration of Improper Results Declaration: The court found that the results of the January 27, 2024, NPP parliamentary primaries were declared by an unauthorized individual, not the officially assigned Electoral Commission official, and before resolving issues related to 19 disputed spoilt ballots, thereby undermining the integrity of the results.
    2. 2. Acknowledgment of Election Irregularities: The court recognized that the primary was plagued by significant electoral violations, such as overvoting and the inclusion of votes from deceased delegates, which rendered the election null and void.
    3. 3. Order for Re-run: The court annulled the election results and ordered a re-run of the primaries to address these issues and ensure a fair election process.

    Abandoned Reliefs:

    In the course of the proceedings, the plaintiff had initially pursued a number of alternative remedies but later withdrew the following requests:

    1. An order of the Court for the ballots to be brought to court and recounted and where the ballots have been tampered with or cannot be procured an order for the re-run of the polls.

    2. A declaration that when the 19 alleged spoiled ballots are scrutinized properly some of those ballots are valid votes in favour of the Plaintiff and when added to the valid votes cast in Plaintiff’s favour, Plaintiff will emerge as the winner of the polls.

    The court is expected to deliver a full, reasoned judgment on September 12, 2024.

  • Tamale nurse receives 6-year jail sentence for pouring hot water on husband

    Tamale nurse receives 6-year jail sentence for pouring hot water on husband

    A nurse employed at the Emergency Burns Unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Zeinab Muhammad Ali, has been sentenced to six years of imprisonment with hard labor for pouring boiling water on her husband.

    The incident occurred during a heated argument stemming from her husband’s refusal to allow her to use his car.

    Following her arrest, Zeinab was brought before Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah at the Tamale High Court, where she was charged with causing harm.

    Meanwhile, her husband is currently undergoing treatment and observation at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

  • Savelugu MP cleared of firearms charges

    Savelugu MP cleared of firearms charges

    The Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Alhaji Jacob Iddrisu Wunbenkpang, has been cleared of all charges in the criminal case against him at the Tamale High Court.

    He was accused of possessing firearms a day after the 2020 presidential elections and was facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms.

    The case was linked to a tragic shooting incident at the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) office in Savelugu, Northern Region, which resulted in the death of a young girl.

    In response to the gunshots that took a life in the constituency, the police raided the NDC party office on December 9, 2020.

    During the search, an AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition were discovered in the party’s office, leading to the MP’s arrest and subsequent trial.

    Notably, in March 2023, the Tamale High Court had issued a bench warrant for Alhaji Jacob Iddrisu Wunbenkpang’s arrest after he failed to appear before the court since 2020.

    However, on July 31, 2023, the Tamale High Court acquitted the MP on all charges, bringing an end to the legal proceedings against him.

  • High Court authorizes arrest of Savelugu MP

    High Court authorizes arrest of Savelugu MP

    Jacob Iddris, the member of parliament for Savelugu, has been given a bench warrant by the Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah.

    The MP has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

    On December 9, 2020, state prosecutors said they found an AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition in an office they said belonged to the MP.

    The National Democratic Congress had stated that the party office was an open space and the weapon could have been put there by someone else and not the MP. The party also raised concerns about the search which they alleged was conducted without the presence of the owners of the facility.

    The search followed some shooting that led to the death of one person. An unknown assailant shot a 12-year-old dead and injured three others in Savelugu on December 8, 2020, after the declaration of the 2020 election result.

    Divisional Police Command, DSP Twumasi Ankrah, at the time said the Police were able to retrieve AK47 guns upon their arrival at the scene.

    The accused and his lawyer failed to appear in court on Friday when the case was called. The accused had written to the court about some pressing assignment he had to execute in Parliament and prayed the court to bear with him. The judge had earlier raised concerns over his absence in court.

    The Chief State Attorney appealed for a warrant for his arrest following the absence of the MP in court. The plea of the state prosecutors was granted. The judge thus issued the bench warrant for the MP.