The NDC has jumped to the defense of Dr Ayine after the Chief Justice seeks to haul him before the General Legal Council.
The NDC in a press conference addressed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said they stand with Dr Ayine against what they described as a "campaign of judicial tyranny being waged by the Chief Justice of the Republic against lawyers who identify with the NDC."
Asiedu Nketia believes that the action of the Chief Justice is a grand agenda to intimidate NDC members who criticise the 2020 petition.
"Indeed, the latest persecution of Dr. Ayine is part of a grand agenda by the current Chief Justice to intimidate, cower and muzzle all dissenting voices, particularly those in the NDC, who dare to speak against some of the strange decisions that characterized the 2020 Presidential Election Petition."
He cited some other members of the NDC who have fall victim to the grand agenda of the Cheif Justice.
"As you may be aware, only few months ago, some lawyers with NDC leanings, specifically Lawyer Abraham Amaliba and David Annan, were hauled to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council by the Chief Justice in similar fashion and harassed for expressing their views on the Constitution of the Supreme Court Panel that heard the 2020 Election Petition. Also, not long ago, the Hon. Rockson-Nelson K. Etse Dafeamekpor, the NDC member of Parliament for South Dayi, received a similar invitation to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council."
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Background
The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has reported lawyer Dr Ayine to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) for statements he allegedly made during a panel discussion on Presidential Election Petitions and their impact on Africa's Democracy.
A copy of the petition, signed by the Judicial Secretary Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo, accuses Dr Ayine of questioning the independence of the Judiciary due to the manner the Supreme Court adjudicated the 2020 presidential election petition.
The petition says Dr Ayine’s basis for his assertion during the discussion is the Supreme Court's failure to apply the rules of procedure as well as the consistent and continuous dismissal of the petitioner's applications or reliefs.
“These comments are made against the backdrop of the Supreme Court discharging Dr. Ayine on a charge of contempt for similar comments made against members of the Supreme Court during the Election Petition hearing. Dr. Ayine apologized profusely when he appeared before the Court on the Contempt charge and admitted to having made comments which were unbecoming of a Lawyer of his standing and a former Deputy Attorney-General."
“His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate this matter further,†the petition averred.
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