Anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem has criticised Parliament for acting as both an accuser and a judge in matters involving bribery allegations against its members.
In an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Wednesday, January 29, he argued that such an approach undermines fairness and transparency.
“Parliament should not always constitute itself into a court. You are the accusers or the complainant, like this is made against you. You are the complainant, and you invite the person to come before you and admit that he’s at fault...It doesn't make sense. They need to stop that,” he said.
His comments follow Parliament’s decision to summon activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor to appear before the Appointments Committee to substantiate allegations that the committee had been demanding money from ministerial nominees in exchange for their approval.
The activist’s claims were strongly refuted by the committee, leading to his appearance before them on Wednesday, where he ultimately apologised.
However, Mr Azeem believes that if Parliament was genuinely concerned about the allegations, it should have initiated an independent investigation rather than handling the matter internally.
“If they are really worried, they should ask an independent matter, a person or group, to investigate the matter, and not to constitute themselves into a court and try the guy who accused them of having done something wrong. That definitely is not right,” he stressed.
Latest Stories
-
Nearly 50 people killed in South Africa floods
17 minutes -
Kenya’s Ruto says blogger died at hands of police, shifting official account
27 minutes -
Calm returns to Los Angeles after hundreds arrested
40 minutes -
‘We’re working overnight, but we can’t publish everything’ – Deputy AG Srem Sai
52 minutes -
ORAL process is not slow, its moving fast, Deputy AG Srem Sai tells Joy News
1 hour -
Ex-convict remanded over alleged romance scam, sextortion
2 hours -
Court remands suspect over Nsawam-Adoagyiri riot
2 hours -
Police arrest fake doctor over fraud
2 hours -
‘For the sake of truth’: A Weinstein victim’s decision to take the stand again
3 hours -
Ablekuma West MP Counsels BECE candidates
3 hours -
Horizons-China, SIL partners with V/R Minister to tackle menstrual hygiene
3 hours -
I started doing 3D drawing at age 11 – 16-year-old CEO reveals
3 hours -
Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexual assault after New York retrial
3 hours -
Menscook isn’t exclusively for the elite – Manager
3 hours -
It’ll not be all men forever – Menscook manager hints
4 hours