{"id":228921,"date":"2016-07-07T18:58:55","date_gmt":"2016-07-07T18:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=228921"},"modified":"2016-07-07T18:58:55","modified_gmt":"2016-07-07T18:58:55","slug":"montie-fm-panelists-admitted-to-threatening-judges-bni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/07\/montie-fm-panelists-admitted-to-threatening-judges-bni\/","title":{"rendered":"Montie FM panelists admitted to threatening Judges – BNI"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), has revealed that the two Montie FM panelists accused of threatening the lives of\u00a0Supreme Court Judges, admitted to same \u00a0when they were interrogated by the Bureau.<\/p>\n

This contradicts the claims by one of the\u00a0suspects,\u00a0Godwin Ako Gunn, that he did not make such comments or even appear on the radio program where the comments were made.<\/p>\n

[contextly_sidebar id=”pxWuMNtDdzwPgP8w2vF6Qj4rbncSQQlU”]The BNI in a statement noted that, it questioned the two suspects, Alistair Tairo Nelson and Ako Gunn on July 3, and \u201cthe two [2] suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two were reported to have threatened to \u201cfinish\u201d the Supreme Court judges if they made any judgment against the Electoral Commission in the ongoing court case challenging the validity of the voters\u2019 register<\/p>\n

However, the\u00a0statement from the BNI also indicated that, the two were incapable of carrying out such a threat and acted out of “needless bravado”.<\/p>\n

\u201cFurther checks by the BNI have however established that, the suspects were incapable of carrying out their pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado. Nevertheless, our investigations are ongoing and the suspects are reporting to the BNI three times a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ako Gunn and lawyer claim innocence<\/strong><\/p>\n

The BNI\u2019s statement contradicts claims by the lawyer for Mr. Gunn, Chris Ackumey, who contended that, his client did not make such comments<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

In statement signed by his lawyer, Chris Ackumey, and addressed to the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Gunn demanded an apology from the GBA, which released a statement condemning him for the threats.<\/p>\n

In the statement, Mr. Ackumey said, \u201cmy client vehemently denies being on the said programme on the 29th of June, 2016 as a panelist on Montie FM as alleged and to that extent could not have uttered the alleged death threats on the Judges attributed to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

BNI warns media, citizens<\/strong><\/p>\n

The BNI has also cautioned all Ghanaians to shun all inflammatory language with the potential to cause fear and panic in the society.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of our constitutional mandate to safeguard Ghana\u2019s political environment for all Ghanaians, we advise all discussants to avoid intemperate and inflammatory language and innuendoes…\u00a0We also advice media house owners, show hosts, panelists and other radio communicators to conduct all discussions with decorum, tolerance and respect for the constitutional rights of others. This will ensure peace before, during and after the upcoming elections.”<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not hesitate to invoke the full sanctions of the law against any media house which ignores this warning,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n

Find below the full BNI statement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bureau of National Investigation [BNI] on 3rd July, 2016 questioned two [2] radio communicators, namely Alistair Tairo Nelson, forty-one [41] and Godwin Ako Gunn, thirty-nine [39] on comments they aired on MONTIE FM, an Accra-based radio station, attacking Justices of the Supreme Court. The arrest was premised on the fact that their comments were considered provocative, inflammatory, and unacceptable and had the potential of creating security challenges. In arresting the two [2], the BNI took into consideration the current volatile security situation in the country as we inch towards the 2016 elections.<\/p>\n

At the interrogation, the two [2] suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate. Further checks by the BNI have however established that the suspects were incapable of carrying out their pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado. Nevertheless our investigations are ongoing and the suspects are reporting to the BNI three times a week.<\/p>\n

The BNI further observes that thus far, several electronic and print media outlets have become notorious for their intemperate vituperations, personal attacks and outright insults, among others. This is a serious security concern that we will not allow to fester. As part of our constitutional mandate to safeguard Ghana\u2019s political environment for all Ghanaians, we advice all discussants to avoid intemperate and inflammatory language and innuendoes that have the tendency to create fear and panic and that tend to cause breaches of the peace.<\/p>\n

The Bureau notes that the rights of self-expression and media freedom are enshrined in our constitution, and several governmental and nongovernmental institutions such as the National Media Commission (NMC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other Civil Society Organizations, recognized by statute or otherwise, have a primary responsibility to regulate the communication sector and avoid inflammatory commentary that has the potential to threaten the peace and stability of the country.<\/p>\n

The Bureau assures the judiciary, the good people of Ghana and all foreigners within the jurisdiction that we shall continue to work with all the other State Security Agencies to ensure their safety at all times. We also advice media house owners, show hosts, panelists and other radio communicators to conduct all discussions with decorum, tolerance and respect for the constitutional rights of others. This will ensure peace before, during and after the upcoming elections.<\/p>\n

We will not hesitate to invoke the full sanctions of the law against any media house which ignores this warning\u2026 END<\/p>\n

Issued From: BNI HQ, ACCRA 07\/07\/16<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), has revealed that the two Montie FM panelists accused of threatening the lives of\u00a0Supreme Court Judges, admitted to same \u00a0when they were interrogated by the Bureau. This contradicts the claims by one of the\u00a0suspects,\u00a0Godwin Ako Gunn, that he did not make such comments or even appear on the radio […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":228922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10,11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nMontie FM panelists admitted to threatening Judges - BNI - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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