The Supreme Court has quashed a 2020 bench warrant for the arrest of social media commentator Kevin Taylor, citing lack of due process.
In a 4-1 majority decision, a five-member panel presided over by Justice Omoro Issiful Tanko ruled that the warrant issued by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour (now a Court of Appeal judge) violated Taylor’s right to due process.
The court granted an application for Certiorari filed by Taylor’s lawyers, arguing that the bench warrant was issued without giving Taylor a chance to be heard.
Justice Ernest Gaewu dissented from the majority decision.
The bench warrant was issued on January 16, 2020, after Kevin Taylor allegedly made some derogatory comments about Justice Kyei-Baffour.
The warrant directed the Inspector General of Police, National Security, and the Bureau of National Investigations to arrest Taylor and bring him before the court to answer for his comments.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant development in the case, with Justices Senyo Dzamefe, Simon Gbiel Suurbaareh, and Philip Bright Mensah making their first appearance on the apex court panel that ruled on the matter.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah who was at the Supreme Court said Kevin Taylor was physically present in Court.
Background
In a social media video reportage on “With All Due Respect” and dubbed the “The Men in Red, Tainted Judiciary”, Kevin Taylor, is alleged to have picked on the Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, and made several allegations against him.
“Today I will tell you about the men in red, yes the men in red and how some of them have been compromised,” Kevin Taylor is alleged to have said in his introduction in the said video.
Kevin Taylor further indicated in his video that among the recent High Court Justices who were promoted to the Court of Appeal, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, has been penned down by members of the ruling government to be used as the conduit to prosecute former government officials.
He called on the new Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah to investigate the Court of Appeal Judge failing which he will release audio tapes in his custody bordering on meetings the Court of Appeal Judge has had with high ranking officials of the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
The social media commentator further zeroed in on a case before Justice Eric Kyei Baffour entitled the “Republic versus Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and four others” indicating that he is deliberately twisting the law as far as proceedings, in that case, is concerned to favour the current NPP administration.
“Justice Eric Kyei Baffour was hurriedly promoted from a High Court Judge to a Court of Appeal Judge . I can say on Authority that Justice Kyei Baffour is operating on the orders of President Akufo-Addo and the National Security Minister Kan Dapaah. This is why the case of the former NCA board members was jumped straight to the Commercial Court to Kyei Baffour so that he will execute government agenda, this is basic. With all due respect my fellow Ghanaians, Justice Kyei Baffour is seriously doing the bidding of the President and more importantly the bidding of the National Security Minister, Mr. Kan Dapaah” Kevin Taylor is alleged to have said.
Kevin Taylor also alleged that the Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, has recently built a mansion in Accra that has become the talk of town in Nation.
“Justice Kyei Baffour has become too powerful and too rich in this short time. He recently built one of the most expensive mansions in Accra which in fact has become the talk in the corridors of the Justice department” Taylor said.
Justice Eric Kyei Baffour in issuing the arrest warrant said the warrant will hold until Kevin Taylor is arrested and presented to his Court or until he longer exist on planet earth.
