Constitutional lawyer Raymond Bidema, is urging the legal team of controversial evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, to file an urgent appeal against what he describes as a harsh and excessive 15-year jail sentence handed down by the Accra Circuit Court.
Agradaa was convicted of defrauding by false pretence, charlatanic advertisement, and obtaining money under false pretences; charges that stem from a well-publicized incident in October 2022.
Speaking on StarrToday with Ekow Boakye, Lawyer Bidema stressed the importance of scrutinizing the court’s ruling.
“There is always the possibility that a judge may err in delivering a judgment. As a lawyer, once you identify an error in a judgment that has been delivered, it is your duty to file an appeal to seek justice for your client. It is far better to ensure that an innocent person is set free than to allow them to be wrongly imprisoned. Convicting an innocent party is unjust and goes against the principles of a democratic society,” he said.
He further noted that if the defense team believes the judge’s conclusion is not supported by the evidence, “then the right course of action is to pursue an appeal to have the accused person discharged.”
Meanwhile, the husband of Pastor Angel Asiamah has expressed unwavering support for the incarcerated Agradaa, vowing to stand by the marital vows they made.
Mitigation Plea
Counsel for Nana Agradaa, Richard Asare Baffour, pleaded for mercy, citing her role as a mother of five, including a 24-year-old university student and a three-year-old child.
He urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, stating that Nana Agradaa had been present in court throughout the trial and had shown remorse.
Aggravating Factors:
The prosecution, led by ASP Emmanuel Haligah, highlighted aggravating factors, including premeditation, the prevalence of charlatanic advertisements, and the impact on victims.
He noted that Nana Agradaa was not a first-time offender, having been convicted of a similar offense in 2021, and urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others.
Brief Facts:
According to the brief facts of the case, the accused, Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, is the Founder of Heaven Way Champions International Ministry, Weija, and resides at Weija, Accra.
On October 10, 2022, the complainants reported to the police that the accused demanded and received sums of money from them under the pretext of giving them various sums of money in return.
Investigations established that on October 5, 2022, the accused advertised on Today’s TV and other social media platforms that she was organizing an all-night service on October 7, 2022, at Heaven Way Champions International Ministry, where she would share an amount of GH¢300,000.00 with all participants who needed money to fund their business or pay rent.
The accused displayed bundles of money during the advertisement and encouraged members of the public to attend the service for a share of the money.
Due to the false representation made in the advertisements, complainants and other members of the public attended the all-night service, where they were directed to form groups and pay various sums of money.
The accused promised to give each group a specific amount of money, but after obtaining the money, she failed to fulfill her promise and left the complainants stranded.
Further investigations established that the accused undertook the charlatanic advertisement with the intent to defraud unsuspecting complainants.
The accused admitted to the allegations during interrogations, leading to her arraignment before the court.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
