A communications team member of the governing NDC, Fred Agbenyo has described as “ridiculous”, the call by the opposition New Patriotic Party, for the Chief Justice to investigate an aspect of the leaked tape of former deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah.

The former deputy Communications Minister, claimed on the tape that a minister of state, Nana Oye Lithur met some members on the panel of judges hearing the case prior to the delivery of judgment on the election petition.

Oye Lithur in a statement refuted the allegation describing it as “untrue and preposterous”.

But the NPP is demanding a judicial enquiry into the comments by the dismissed deputy Communications Minister. Judicial Secretary, Alex Opoku Acheampong on Joy News confirmed receipt of the petition and said it will be examined even though he did not give any timelines.

Speaking on Kokrokoo on Peace FM Tuesday, Fred Agbenyo said he will be “very surprised and shocked” if the Chief Justice, Georgina Wood heeds to what he described as the NPP’s politically motivated agenda. According to him, some of the comments made by Victoria Hamah on the secret recording are “lies and petty gossip”.

“They [NPP] think that Ghana’s Chief Justice can be reduced to such level of pettiness to go and investigate rumours and allegations?” he quizzed.

Citing the claim that the verdict of the election petition was influenced by a minister as an example, Agbenyo said such “petty allegations” cannot be backed with any evidence. He said it is very insulting for the NPP to insinuate that the verdict of the justices was politically motivated.

“Suddenly the NPP does not have confidence in them [judges] and believe that somebody corrupted them? It is the highest insult to the integrity of the men and women whose time was wasted at the Supreme Court”.

Fred Agbenyo said it is unfortunate how Victoria Hamah has been vilified especially by people who faced similar circumstance but were not bold enough to own up.

“It’s as if it is a crime now to even speak the truth. If Vikileaks [is anything to go by] then lets give the same credence to Wikileaks and see if they [NPP] will be able to stand by the same yardstick”.

In a rebuttal, Managing editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. said the NPP’s call for probe is in the right direction.

He said the allegation of interference in the judiciary cannot be petty when it came from a deputy minister in government.

The Insight editor added that the claim that the judges were influenced “should not be dismissed lightly all; it is a violation of the Constitution if it happened”.