The High Court has ordered the Member Parliament of Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga to ensure he is available to the court anytime his criminal case is heard.
According to the court, the immunity enjoyed by parliamentarians in article 118 (2) is for only when they are to appear as witnesses and not as an accused person.
The court presided over by Justice Efia Serwaa Botwe gave the ruling based on a certificate issued by Speaker of Parliament to the court citing article 118(1&2) which states MPs cannot be compelled to appear before a court while attending to the business of parliament.
Mahama Ayariga has been arraigned by the state for two separate cases which involve allegations of procurement breaches in the purchase of some ambulances for his constituency as well as personal cars for himself.
Martin Amidu in his suit against Mahama Ayariga on the purchase of personal cars alleged that the legislator abused the privileges he enjoys as a Member of Parliament by getting a loan for a car but connived with a private company to secure the funds and import three cheaper vehicles from Dubai and failing to pay appropriate duty for them under the guise that they were for official duties.
The two cases have since been adjourned to June 10, 2019, due to some applications filed by lawyers of Mr. Ayariga seeking to have the charge sheet which has not been read yet struck out due to its propriety.