JB Murder: Pathologist holding nation to ransom

Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has prayed the Accra Central District court hearing the deceased MP, JB Danquah Adu’s case, to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Lawrence Adusei, the pathologist who conducted autopsy on the late legislator.

According to Nana Obiri Boahene, the pathologist is holding the nation to ransom by consistently refusing to show up in court whenever he was needed.

At the last adjourned date in January, Dr Adusei was ordered to re-produce the autopsy report after he told the Judge that his house had been burgled and thus the report stolen. This was after several warnings for him to submit the report to assist in a speedy trail.

In court on Thursday, 8 February 2018, the pathologist submitted the report, but did not turn up in person to give evidence. This compelled the presiding Judge Gloria Laryea, to adjourn the case to February 22.

Reacting to this development, Nana Obiri Boahene said a warrant must be issued for the arrest of Dr Adusei.

He said: “I’m highly perturbed; the conduct of the medical officer leaves much to be desired. He’s holding the whole nation to ransom. If it were to be my profession, the general legal counsel or the Ghana Bar Association would have directed another lawyer to take over. You cannot behave like that, is he the only pathologist in this country? Or is he super human?

“We come to court and he’ll not turn up, not even the courtesy to write to the court to explain why he cannot be present in court. At the last sitting, the judge warned him that he must be present in court but no letter, no excuse, no request for adjournment. I prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. People must respect the judiciary, the judicial system and the judicial process. He is not a super human, is he the only pathologist in Ghana?”

On 9 February 2016, some unknown assailants murdered the late MP in his room at his Shiashie residence. Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bossu, accused of murdering the lawmaker are standing trail.