“The parties to the case submitted the conditions adopted by the Human Rights Division Court 2.
“In a judgment obtained by myjoyonline.com, the terms of the settlement were accepted by the court presided over by President Justice Nicholas Abodakpi.
“In July 2019, the petitioner, Emmanuel Azarfor Abugri, sued the National Security Coordinator, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General for alleged human rights violations.
“The judgment ordered that the respondents should issue an apology to the petitioner and publish the terms of the settlement in the Daily Graphic within 14 days of adoption.
“The respondents shall pay compensation and legal fees and pay for the gadgets seized from the petitioner including a laptop, two mobile phones and a tablet.” The news website reported.
Arrest, detention and torture
On June 27, 2019, gun-wielding National Security operatives arrested Emmanuel Azarfor Abugri and his correspondent Emmanuel Britwum at their offices.
The officers took him into a black van, wrapped his head in black polythene bags and sped away.
Their laptops and mobiles have been seized and they have been questioned by the National Security Offices.
Emmanuel Azarfor Abugri, editor of the online news portal, Modernghana.com, later told the media that he was subjected to electric shocks and other forms of torture while in detention.
The inquiry was conducted over two articles published by the website about National Security Minister Albert Kahn Dapah.
The Ministry of National Security Council has denied that the journalist was tortured.
The ministry said the journalists were arrested on charges of involvement in cyber crimes.
State prosecutors on July 5, 2019 filed cybercrime charges against Emmanuel Azarfor Abugri and two other journalists, Emmanuel Britwum reporter of ModernGhana.com and Obeng Manu editor of Peace FM for illegal access to an email account belonging to local radio station Peace FM.
However, the state was forced by the Accra High Court to drop the charges on the first day the journalists appeared in court.
After Judge Afia Asare Botwe pointed out the errors and dismissed the appeals by senior state counsel Stella Ohene Appiah because the state wanted the court to do so without legal backing.
Counsel for the accused, Samson Lordi Enyenini, said the criminal case was a face-saving act that was doomed at the outset.
Azarfor has filed a lawsuit against the National Security Coordinator and two others for torture
On July 11, 2019, Emmanuel Azarfor Abugri instituted legal action against the National Security Coordinator, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General for torture he suffered at the hands of national security operatives.
He also prayed the Human Rights Division of the High Court to direct the Attorney General to trace, name and subject them to criminal prosecution or conviction of national security coordinators and officials directly or indirectly involved in human rights violations against them.
He prayed the court to order the immediate and unconditional release and surrender of all the seized items.
Mr Azarfor’s application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights is being prosecuted on his behalf by Samson Lordi Ayenini, working with a legal team including Dr Justices Srem Sai and Nii Kpakpo Samoa Ado.
