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A private legal practitioner, Edudzi Tamakloe, has criticised former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Ayikoi Otoo for his comments describing the recent apology offered by Montie FM as hypocritical.

Ayikoi Otoo had told Citi News that Montie FM had a reputation for incendiary comments, and that prior to its two panelists threatening the lives of judges on air, they have been known for slandering and bashing the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to Edudzi Tamakloe, Ayikoi Otoo’s dismissal of the station’s apology and his criticism of the panelists were unfortunate and unethical, as a lawyer of his standing should know the case was still before the court.

“It’s simply unfortunate and this should not be coming from him. In any case, these are persons who have been charged with a quasi-criminal offence and have a right to be heard,” he said.

“While this matter is sub judice, a lawyer of the standing of Ayikoi Otoo is effectively asking for them to be crucified. What has happened to our ethics, at least as lawyers? This is not right.”

Edudzi Tamakloe argued that Ayikoi Otoo’s comments that the apology from Montie FM be disregarded because of previous verbal attacks on the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was out of place.

According to him, the alleged comments made by the panelists on the radio programme were directed at the judges so any link to Nana Addo was superficial.

“When you listen carefully to Ayikoi Otoo, what you hear him say is that Montie has been attacking Nana Akufo-Addo and for that matter, their apology should not be heard. The reason why the gentleman are in court, has nothing to do with an attack on Nana Addo,” he stated.

“It’s an attack on the judiciary, that the allegation. So on what basis would he be drawing inferences from the attacks on Nana Addo to say their [Montie FM] apology is not genuine. It’s simply unfortunate and this should not be coming from him.”

Montie FM panelists, host face Supreme Court on July 12

The Supreme Court has scheduled Tuesday July 12 2016, for the hearing of the contempt suit brought against owners of Accra-based Montie FM, the host of the station’s ‘Pampaso’ programme, and two panelists, who threatened to kill judges over their handling of the Abu Ramadan suit on the credibility of the voters’ register.