The Accra High Court has ordered the Police Criminal Investigations Department to seize some essential electronic gadgets on which information related to the alleged treasonable comments made by Koku Anyidoho are said to be stored. The items to be seized under the order include laptops, iPhones and ipads. Justice Patience Mills-Tetteh gave the order on Wednesday following an ex-parte motion issued at the court by the Police. The order also permits the police to search and seize electronic devices of ‘agents’ of Anyodoho. Police will now have full access to the residence of the embattled deputy general of the National Democratic Congress who was arrested on March 27 over comments he made suggesting an imminent coup d’état in the country. “Somebody should tell Nana Akufo- Addo, [massa], history has a very interesting way of repeating itself, on the 13th of January 1972, a certain Colonel Ignatius Kuntu Achampong led an insurrection that removed the progress party from power, Busia was the prime minister, Akufo-Addo’s father was the ceremonial president. Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that history has an interesting way of repeating itself, ” he told an Accra-based Happy FM. As to whether he meant there will be a coup d’etat in Ghana, the deputy general secretary responded: “As for me I have said it [translated], history has an interesting way of repeating itself”. Per the ex-parte order, the Police is to “search and make seizure” at the residence of Anyidoho who has already been cautioned on the offences related to causing fear and alarm and treason felony. “It is hereby ordered that electronic gadgets including laptops, iphones and ipads believed to be storage of information related to treason in the premises of Koku Anyidoho and his agents are to be seized to aid police investigation of the said Koku Anyidoho,” the order dated March 28 and signed by the court registrar Issahaku Musah stated. He has since been denied bail. Per Ghana’s 1992 constitution, Anyidoho can be held in police custody for 48 hours after which they will be required to arraign him on the charges. The NDC firebrand, Koku Anyidoho, suggested in a radio interview Monday, March 26 that there would be ‘civil revolt’ and ‘civilian coup d’état’ in the country from Wednesday, March 28. Plain-clothed officers later Tuesday afternoon picked up Anyidoho at the Accra International Press Centre where he and others were addressing journalists. Meanwhile the Police CID has requested management of Accra-based Happy FM to provide the recordings and other materials pertaining to comments made by Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho. READ: Koku Anyidoho arrested over coup comment General secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu has since March 27 stated Anyidoho’s comments do not reflect the position of the party, though the party and its top executives have since been demanding his release from police custody READ: NDC dissociates itself from Anyidoho’s coup d’etat comments Speaking TV3’s Midday Live Tuesday, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the comments only remains the opinion of Anyidoho and do not in any way represent that of the party which lost power in the 2016 general elections. NDC should condemn Anyidoho – Gov’t But the government issued a statement later to state it is not enough for the National Democratic Congress to distance itself from the ‘treasonable’ comments without condemning same. Information Minister Dr. Mustapha Hamid who signed and issued the satatement said the government is “concerned that the NDC does not condemn the treasonable comments of Anyidoho”. “We find the NDC’s reluctance to condemn Anyodoh as particularly disturbing”, he said. The statement said the coup, which Anyidoho said, would begin Wednesday coincides with a demonstration which has received NDC’s endorsement. “It is therefore important that the NDC demonstrates its commitment to democratic governance by showing that the Wednesday demonstration is not a smoke screen for fomenting insurrection as Anyidoho claims,” the statement said. Government has thus called on the NDC to show commitment by unreservedly condemning what it described as “treasonable comments” by Anyidoho. It assured that appropriate steps would be taken within the law, to protect the security of the state. “Government assures the citizens, that it will take appropriate steps within the bounds of law, to protect the security of the state,” it concluded. By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3newss.com|Ghana]]>
Seize Anyidoho's phones, other electronic gadgets – Court orders
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