Lawyers for Montie 3 to ask for presidential pardon

The lawyers for the convicted Montie trio have indicated an intention to petition President John Dramani Mahama for a presidential pardon.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced the three to four months’ imprisonment each for scandalising the court.

The two panellists, Allistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn spurred by the host, Salifu Maase alias Mugabe on a political talk show ‘Pampaso’ a.k.a ‘Bia Gya’ threatened the lives of judges of the superior court, especially those who heard the case on the credibility of Ghana’s electoral register filed by Abu Ramadan and Evans Nimako against the Electoral Commission.

After founding them guilty of contempt, they were handed the four month custodial sentence and in addition pay a Ghc10,000 fine each or in default serve an additional one month in prison. 

In a statement after the sentence, their lawyers Nana Ato Dadzie and George Loh described the sentence by the court as “harsh and excessive.”

“As solicitors we accept the decision of the august court. We do admit some of the statements uttered by some of our clients are unacceptable. We nevertheless consider custodial sentence of four months imposed by the Supreme Court as being excessive and harsh.”

“We also do not believe that citizens of Ghana ought to be committed to prison for infractions on free expression especially in light of the repeal of the criminal libel law. Our clients have directed us in the circumstances to petition His Excellency the President of the Republic to exercise his powers of prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the Constitution of Ghana."