Customer Support

OWUSU AND ANOTHER
V.
THE REPUBLIC

(1979) JELR 65106 (HC)

High Court 23 Jul 1979 Ghana
BriefBot icon

BriefBot Summary

Free

- The two accused farmers have been charged with the offence of abetment of murder. - They have been in custody since their arrest on 23 May 1976. - They are applying for bail pending their trial at the High Court. - The question is whether

Case Details

Judges:ANDOH J.
Counsel:D. DWIRA FOR THE APPLICANTS; AHLIJAH PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.
Other Citations:[1978] GLR 460

ANDOH J.

The two accused are farmers at Yakese and have been charged with the offence of abetment of murder contrary to sections 20(1) and 46 of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29). They were arrested on or about 23 May 1976 and they are still on remand pending their trial at the High Court, Sekondi. They now apply for bail and the question which arises is whether regardless of the provisions of section 96 (7) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1960 (Act 30), as amended by section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Decree, 1975 (N.R.C.D. 309) this court has the power to grant them bail. Section 96 (7) (a) provides:

“(7) A court shall refuse to grant bail -
(a) in a case of treason, subversion, murder, robbery, hijacking, piracy or escape from lawful custody.”

At first glance of the above provision, one may be tempted to say that the court is ousted of jurisdiction in granting bail in the offences listed above but then it is significant to note that the section does not say that t…

There's more. Sign in to continue reading.

judy.legal is the comprehensive database of case law and legislation from Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. Gain seamless access to over 77,000 cases, recent judgments, statutes, and rules of court.