Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has been advised to re-examine the ways he goes about his investigative journalism following the verdict on the defamation case he filed against Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong.
A private legal practitioner Mr Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo said the judgment was a damning verdict on the modus operandi of Anas for which he has to revise his notes.
Speaking on News 360 on TV3 Thursday, March 16, he said “I think people should take their time and read this particular judgment, it is a ringing indictment on the methodology of Anas, it actually calls him a criminal simplicita, it is a very damning verdict on his methodology, it actually describes the methodology as illegal. if your standards are what the laws call illegal work then I think he should revise his note because the law as it is today the methodology adopted by Mr Anas is illegal.”
The Accra High Court on Wednesday, March 15 dismissed the GH¢25 million defamation suit against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, held that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This was after Anas, in 2018, sued the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker for allegedly defaming him.
Anas prayed to the court to award GH¢25 million against Mr Agyapong to compensate him for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,” Justice Baah ruled.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, Tiger Eye PI said: “We find the court decision an unfortunate travesty of justice and very inimical to the administration of justice and fairness. If for nothing at all made an allegation of murder against Anas.”
It added: “Tiger Eye PI and our CEO Anas Aremeyaw remain resolute in our fight against corruption in the Ghanaian society.”
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight Show on TV3 Wednesday, March 15, Mr Effah Darteh said “I am surprised that Tiger Eye is talking like this because when it comes to placement of cases before the court there is nobody who has control over it, it is done by the Office of the Chief Justice and the Judicial Secretary.
“And so it is very unfair and unrealistic for Tiger Eye PI to accuse Kennedy Agyapong as having manipulated the system in such a way as to get a judge who will have a sympathetic hearing for he Kennedy Agyapong to the disadvantage of Tiger Eye.”
He added “Tiger Eye, as a team of lawyers, should know that if a judge makes any ruling [or] any decision and you are not comfortable with it, you have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeal or a higher bench.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana