Investigative organisation Tiger Eye P.I has described as a travesty of justice, the judgement by a High Court judge in the defamation suit against Kennedy Agyapong.
This comes after the Court dismissed the defamation suit, filed in 2018, for lacking merit.
Explaining their position, the company, in a statement released on Wednesday, March 15, indicated that the court established that Mr Agyapong defamed investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas who filed the suit.
However, the court presided over by Justice Eric Baah, despite the admission absolved the Assin Central MP of any liability in a “bizarre twist”, they added.
“We find the decision of the court an unfortunate travesty of justice and very inimical to the administration of justice and fairness. If for nothing at all, Mr. Agyapong made an allegation of murder against Mr. Anas,” parts of the statement read.
“There is absolutely nothing contained in the said documentary which alludes to the commission of murder or an allegation of the commission of murder by Mr. Anas. Thus, that documentary cannot provide any justification for an allegation of murder in the wildest imagination.”
Tiger Eye P.I noted that the judge “conveniently” ignored the fact that Mr. Anas is not a suspect in a murder and is not under investigation for murder.
They added that even throughout the trial, Mr Agyapong showed disdain and disrespect for not only the court but also the lawyers of Anas. However, all attempts to cite him for contempt hit a dead end.
“This case travelled through the hands of three judges with Justice Baah being the latest assigned to the case at the express instance of Kennedy Agyapong,” they stated.
Despite losing the case, Tiger P.I said that they are dedicated to fighting corruption and will continuously do so for the country.
Background
In 2018 Anas Aremeyaw Anas filed a defamation suit against Kennedy Agyapong after he called the journalist a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist and evil on live television among others.
In the suit, Mr Anas indicated that the Assin Central MP during the time his work ‘Number 12’ investigative piece detailing corruption in Ghana football also published materials to discredit him and his work. [Following the documentary, former President of the Ghana Football Association Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyi, who was one of the main subjects, was banned for 15 years from all football-related activities.]
Mr Anas had noted that not only did this affect his reputation as an acclaimed investigative journalist, but the Assin Central MP also incited the public against him.
Among other things, the journalist was seeking damages to the tune of GH¢25 million.
Read Tiger Eye P.I’s full statement below:
