Agradaa’s lawyer slams 15-year sentence as “clandestine justice,” vows to appeal
He went on to argue that the sentence, which includes hard labour, was less about the evidence and more about Agradaa’s controversial reputation on social media and in the public eye
Lawyer for popular evangelist and former fetish priestess Nana Agradaa, Richard Asare-Baffour, has strongly criticised the 15-year custodial sentence handed to his client, describing the ruling as a “typical example of clandestine justice” and driven more by her public persona than the facts of the case.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (4 July), Asare-Baffour expressed deep concern over the reasoning of the Circuit Court Judge, who convicted Agradaa — born Patricia Asiedua — on charges of defrauding by false pretence.
“We are scandalised by the decision,” he said. “This is not because the ruling went against us, but because of the court’s reasoning. You cannot call an accused person to open a defence when there is no evidence on record.”
A Sentence Rooted in Bias?
According to the lawyer, Agradaa was acquitted on two of the five counts brought against her — Counts 4 and 5, both of which involved defrauding by false pretences. The judge admitted that the prosecution led no evidence on those charges, yet still required the defence to open its case during the trial.
“Even when you discharge her on two counts for lack of evidence, the question is, why were we asked to open a defence in the first place?” Asare-Baffour asked.
He went on to argue that the sentence, which includes hard labour, was less about the evidence and more about Agradaa’s controversial reputation on social media and in the public eye.
“She has made many statements that some consider inflammatory. But justice should be based on evidence, not personality. That is why we believe the court may have been influenced by who she is, rather than what she did.”
Challenging the Evidence
Asare-Baffour raised serious questions about the credibility of the prosecution’s case. He noted that both the prosecution and the defence submitted video recordings of the alleged incidents at Agradaa’s church, yet the prosecution failed to pinpoint complainants in the footage or provide corroborating evidence of wrongdoing.
“They claimed the congregation was divided into groups of 20 and asked to pay money. But that is not captured in any of the videos. The excuse from the prosecution was that the lights were turned off. But how then did you identify those in the dark?”
The lawyer also questioned the court’s decision to label individuals seen receiving money in the video as “collaborators” without charging them or conducting a deeper investigation.
“If the police believed they were collaborators, wouldn’t they have been arrested and charged with conspiracy?” he said. “The court made these assumptions without any evidence.”
Plans to Appeal
Agradaa’s legal team has already initiated steps to appeal the ruling, with Asare-Baffour confirming they will be heading to the High Court to seek redress.
“We believe there are serious legal and procedural flaws. Even the prosecution amended their charges multiple times during the trial — a clear sign of uncertainty in their own case.”
He clarified that Agradaa has never been convicted on similar charges of fraud before. Past cases involved “charlatanic advertisement”, a misdemeanour, which the lawyer argues cannot be used as a basis for such a severe sentence.
“No previous fraud conviction exists. Referencing a misdemeanour from 2022 to justify a 15-year sentence is not just improper; it’s dangerous.”
Agradaa Remains in Custody
As of now, Agradaa is in custody, having been transferred to police headquarters shortly after sentencing. Her lawyer described her spirits as surprisingly high despite the ruling.
“She’s encouraged us not to be discouraged. I’ve never seen a person so full of hope, even in the face of incarceration,” Asare-Baffour said.
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