The New Force spokesperson has been re-arrested and reportedly scheduled for deportation
The new Force saga continues as the first face of the political group faces more legal issues. On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, in the evening, Shalimar Abbiusi, the spokesperson for the New Force political movement, was returned by the Ghana Immigration Service. This came after state prosecutors withdrew their allegations against her, which led to her abrupt re-arrest on court property earlier that day.
Joy FM reports that Shalimar was repatriated at around 10 p.m. and had her confiscated belongings back, including her ID cards and iPhone 13. Last week, Abbiusi, the Belgian national, was charged with fabricating paperwork to obtain a residency visa by pretending to be a student at Ghana Christian University College.
The case took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when immigration prosecutors, led by ACI Adolf Aboagye Asenso, said in court that they were instructed to dismiss the charges against The New Force member, even though they had been granted bail of GHc 20,000. Following the accused’s release, the case was wiped out as withdrawn.
But Abbiusi was quickly retaken into custody by an immigration vehicle as she was leaving the courtroom, leading to rumours that there was a plot to deport her. Shalimar’s family and solicitors were spotted objecting to her being escorted into a van. Francis Xavier Sosu, the head of Abbiusi’s legal team, revealed that the group had filed a case in the Human Rights Court to contest what the group called the immigration service’s erratic conduct.
“We have brought a lawsuit against them in the Human Rights Court. They might wish to pursue all other procedures to either attempt to get her out of the country or not. I’m hopeful they will all be held accountable for their acts by the end of the day or in the afternoon and show up in court to answer. “Because we knew their behaviour will likely continue in this direction. Francis Xavier Sosu told Citi FM in Accra that “this is arbitrary, and this should not be tolerated in any democracy.”
CitiNews reported that Concurrently, Abbiusi’s residency visa was cancelled by the Ghana Immigration Service, claiming that her prolonged presence in Ghana was unlawful. There were wild scenes outside the courthouse due to the decision and the plans for repatriation. Due to a lack of evidence, the state prosecutor dismissed all accusations against Abbiusi earlier in the day and ordered the return of her confiscated iPhone 13 Pro.
The parents of Ms Abuissi, the spokesperson of The new Force, were upset over their daughter’s impending deportation. Amid Abbiusi’s continued legal struggles, the New Force issued a press release on December 7 warning of abuses of power, persecution of political opponents, and violations of human rights. Her attorney, Francis Xavier Sosu, allegedly stated that the legal dispute would continue in court after his client returned home.
