Legal practitioner and host of JoyNews’ Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has advised members of the public to verify the identity and authority of persons seeking to arrest them, particularly where those individuals are not clearly identifiable as law-enforcement officers.
His comments come hours after officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) attempted to arrest the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, at the Accra High Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Mr Anyenini, in a public advisory titled “Pray, THE LAW 101,” said being law-abiding does not require individuals to blindly surrender themselves to persons claiming the power of arrest.
He urged anyone confronted with an attempted arrest to first establish who the persons involved are and the legal authority under which they are acting.
“Unless a crime is actually taking place or you are approached by clearly identifiable uniformed officers, if anyone attempts to arrest you without the barest proof that they are a law-enforcement officer, do not simply surrender yourself to them,” he stated.
Mr Anyenini said individuals should insist on proper identification and a clear explanation of the authority under which an arrest is being attempted.
He advised that where there is genuine doubt about the identity of the persons involved, the individual may ask them to direct the matter to the nearest police station or appropriate law-enforcement office and offer to report there.
He also urged individuals who are required to accompany persons claiming to be law-enforcement officers to take reasonable precautions for their safety.
According to him, they should alert family members or trusted persons about their whereabouts and, where practicable, have others accompany them.
He further encouraged the involvement of a lawyer whenever possible, especially where there is uncertainty surrounding the identity of the persons seeking to make the arrest or the basis for the action.
“Being law-abiding does not mean blindly submitting to unidentified persons claiming the power of arrest. Verify who they are. Know where you are being taken. Let others know. Get a lawyer involved,” he said.
Mr Anyenini added that a lawful arrest carried out by genuine law-enforcement officers should be distinguishable from an abduction.
“A lawful arrest by genuine law-enforcement officers should be distinguishable from an abduction,” he stated.
The legal practitioner’s advisory follows a confrontation between EOCO officials and Mr Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court complex.
According to reports, an EOCO official approached the MP after proceedings at the court and sought to take him to the Office. The encounter escalated as the MP moved towards his vehicle, with video footage circulating on social media showing a tense confrontation around the vehicle.
The MP subsequently left the court premises and proceeded to Parliament, where he addressed the Parliamentary Press Corps.
Mr Baffour Awuah, who is also a lawyer, said the woman who approached him identified herself as an EOCO official but, according to his account, did not provide identification, proof of authority or an arrest warrant when asked.
He said he offered to drive himself to the EOCO office to verify the invitation but became suspicious when he was allegedly asked to use an EOCO vehicle.
EOCO has, however, given its own account of the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 23, the Office confirmed that its officers had attempted to arrest the MP in connection with an ongoing investigation.
EOCO said the action formed part of measures taken to secure Mr Baffour Awuah’s attendance after he allegedly failed to honour two invitations extended to him in February 2026.
The anti-graft agency said the two invitations were intended to assist with the investigation but were not honoured.
It said it subsequently took steps to secure the MP’s attendance in accordance with the law, describing Wednesday’s attempted arrest as one of the lawful measures available to the Office.
EOCO said the attempted arrest was not completed after the situation escalated.
The Office explained that its officers assessed that taking further action at the scene could have endangered public safety and therefore decided not to proceed.
EOCO further acknowledged that Mr Baffour Awuah subsequently went to the precincts of Parliament to seek sanctuary, although Parliament is currently on recess.
The Office said it recognises and respects the constitutional privileges and immunities of Members of Parliament and would conduct its operations within the Constitution and applicable laws.
It nevertheless stressed that membership of Parliament does not, by itself, bring an investigation to an end or place an individual beyond the reach of the law.
Against this backdrop, Mr Anyenini’s advisory highlights the importance of establishing the identity and authority of persons seeking to take an individual into custody, while also distinguishing legitimate law-enforcement action from unlawful seizure.
His guidance does not advise the public to resist lawful arrests. Rather, it calls for verification of the identity and authority of persons seeking to make an arrest, awareness of the destination to which an individual is being taken and notification of trusted persons or legal counsel where circumstances permit.
EOCO has maintained that the investigation involving Mr Baffour Awuah remains active and said it would review the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s incident, including available video evidence, before determining its next steps.
By 1960news.com
