Lawyers for Commissioner of Police, Alexander Mensah – one of the senior police officers accused of plotting to oust IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare want two committee members investigating the leaked tape recused.

The two members are Wa West MP, Peter Lanchene Toobu and the Vice Chairman of the Committee, James Agalga.

The lawyers who appeared before the ad-hoc committee probing the leaked Bugri Naabu on Thursday cited possible bias as a result of their prejudicial comments in the media since the issue came into the public domain.

Reading from the media space comments the legislator had allegedly made over the matter, the lawyers, said they were concerned over the human rights infringement of their client.

“We have also gathered from the news some members of the committee who have made comments that we consider to be prejudicial even before the matter started.

COP Alexander Mensah

“Mr Chairman, we know Parliament must have its own rules, however, when Parliament sits in a manner that affects the rights of a citizen, that sitting ought to be construed as such. And in a situation where we have that person coming to determine the rights of the individual making comments before he even heard that individual, we are very alarmed that in a situation where sanctions or recommendations are going to be made, the honourable member had already made his mind even before he hears anything from anyone. So Mr Chairman we are bringing this objection to their exclusion from the committee,” he said.

In response, Mr Toobu expressed his dismay over the lawyer's comments.

According to him, the publications attributed to him are not his comments.

He added that he is not the right person to determine the type of punishment to be meted out.

“.. If you are talking about social media, I am sure we all in this country sometimes they [social media] ascribe things to people and when you read them yourself you get shocked… I can’t just remember sleeping in a dream and these words of hellfire coming out,” he said.

He added that “Over the days what I have done personally to help Ghanaians appreciate what we are doing is to refer them to the terms of reference and we’ve done so far.”

Also, Mr Agalga in his defence stated that the committee is not mandated to sanction but make findings which are then subject to a final test at the plenary.

He added that they are only required to make recommendations.

“All of your rights are reserved, if you appear and are charged, a court will grant you the right to be heard and the chance to present your defence. The Attorney General will handle any sanctions,” he said.

He therefore distanced himself from any prejudicial statement and described the attempt to reconstitute the committee as “unacceptable.”

“The members were carefully chosen to do justice to the issue so we must respect that,” he stressed.

The Chairman, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea after listening to all the arguments, asked the lawyers of COP Mensah to furnish the committee with evidence to back the claims of bias.