A lawyer in private practice and an associate at Dame and Partners law firm, Yaw Boampong Adu-Brempong, has filed a petition at the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against Detective Sergeant Confidence Fiagadzi on grounds of professional misconduct.
Mr Fiagadzi is a police officer who serves as Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, and is the officer investigating a complaint made to the IGP by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) against some media practitioners.
The petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohonu, signed by Yaw Boampong Adu-Brempong Esq. (the petitioner) and dated Wednesday, 18 March 2026, has been served on the IGP. The petitioner is essentially demanding an investigation into the police officer’s conduct and the institution of disciplinary action against him.
Complaint
The aggrieved lawyer in his petition notes that his action “arises from his (Confidence Fiagadzi) conduct during an ongoing investigation involving my client, Mr. Wilberforce Asare, the Legal and Political Editor of Asaase Radio, an Accra-based radio station, as well as the Managing Editor of the Source Newspaper, who is currently under investigation for alleged publication of false news and extortion. My humble petition is as follows:
“My client was invited by Confidence Fiagadzi pursuant to a complaint alleging false and malicious publications and extortion by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs. Justina Nelson.
“It is important to state that the main concern of the complainant bordered on the continued publication of stories about her and the institution she heads by my client’s newspaper, as well as other newspapers of repute – the New Crusading Guide and the Daily Gist Newspaper.
“Specifically, the complainant requested the Police Service to “summon” the journalists in question “to substantiate the allegations they have published”, and to secure “the deletion and removal” of the stories as well as “the issuance of formal retractions of the publications”.
“This complaint, illegal and unjustified as it is, was lodged by Mrs. Justina Nelson against the background of civil actions she had already initiated against my client and the other journalists.
“Be that as it may, as legal counsel for Mr. Wilberforce Asare, I have accompanied him on multiple occasions in response to police invitations related to the said investigation, which is being handled by the aforementioned officer.
“Throughout the investigation, Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi has conducted himself in a manner that abuses the rights of the suspect, intimidates and coerces him into admitting matters inconsistent with the facts of the case, and disregards the lawful role of counsel.
“The conduct of Mr. Fiagadzi clearly indicates prejudice against my client and a resolve to build a case against him, irrespective of the evidence on record and the facts to the contrary.
“On 24th February 2026, when my client reported to the CID Headquarters for the first time, Mr. Fiagadzi refused to disclose the full details of the allegations against him to enable us to respond appropriately. He merely stated that the complainant alleged that the suspect had attempted to extort money from her through a third party.
“When we requested the name of the alleged third party to facilitate a response, he categorically refused to provide it, while simultaneously expecting the suspect to respond to the allegation concerning an unnamed person.
“During the interrogation, when the officer proceeded to take a statement from the suspect, he sought to dictate the contents of the cautioned statement he wished for my client to write.
“When I pointed out that this was unlawful, the officer insisted on his approach and threatened that the suspect would not be released unless the suspect wrote the statement as directed, in clear violation of the constitutional protections afforded to suspects.
“On the second occasion – Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 – when my client reported to the police as part of his bail conditions, the officer commanded the suspect to produce his fingers and proceeded to force his fingers unto a device.
“When I quizzed him, he declined to provide any explanations for that. After threatening and compelling my client into compliance, he provided a document (FORM 8) for my client to sign, indicating that my client would sign as “Prisoner’s Signature”.
“I requested an explanation for why a suspect who was merely invited to assist in the investigation must sign a document as a ‘Prisoner,’ and he declined to provide one.
“Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi blatantly refused to provide any explanation, despite my role as counsel for the suspect. It took the intervention of another police officer present to clarify the procedures.
“This conduct constitutes a clear disregard of the constitutional right of my client to legal representation and the right to be informed of the nature of the accusation and the processes relating to the investigation, as guaranteed under Article 14(2) and Article 19(2)(d) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992.
“These constitutional guarantees require that investigating officers respect the presence and participation of counsel in safeguarding the rights of suspects.”
Incident of assault
Touching on the incident of assault, the petitioner stated: “The most troubling incident occurred on Monday, 16th March 2026, when my client and I attended the CID Headquarters. During the interrogation, Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi handed me a document as counsel for the suspect.
“While I was examining the document, the officer abruptly picked up a Samsung Z Fold phone in my possession without any explanation. When I questioned his action, he stated that the document he had handed to me was an ex-parte order from the Circuit Court authorizing the seizure of electronic devices belonging to Wilberforce Asare, including a Samsung Z Fold phone, iPhones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets.
“He then locked the phone in his drawer. The officer made no inquiry into the phone’s ownership before taking it. I expressed my displeasure at this conduct.
“In response, Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi became aggressive and physically confrontational. He dragged a table aside in an attempt to create space to confront me. He then assaulted me by forcibly holding my hand and squeezing it hard in an attempt to snatch back the court order he had earlier handed to me.
“After I released the document, he issued threats, warning that “if you don’t take care, you will see what I will let them do to you here”. This conduct amounts to assault, intimidation, and abuse of authority, which is completely unbecoming of a police officer and particularly troubling given that I was engaged in the lawful discharge of my professional duties as a legal practitioner.
“There is absolutely no criminality in the conduct of my client. Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi, through his actions of brute intimidation, threats, and assault, merely seeks to weaponize the criminal justice system to subdue my client, the Editor of the Source Newspaper, and cow him into a cessation of publications against the CEO of MIIF. This conduct is unwarranted and brings the Ghana Police Service into disrepute.”
Breach of police professional standards
The conduct of Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi, according to the petitioner, “is inconsistent with the standards expected of officers of the Ghana Police Service.
“Under the Police Service disciplinary framework, officers are required to conduct themselves with professionalism, restraint, courtesy, and respect for the rights of members of the public.
“Acts such as assault, abuse of authority, intimidation, discourtesy, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline constitute disciplinary offences under the Police disciplinary regime,” the petitioner said.
“The conduct of Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi, as described above, clearly falls within the category of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline and abuse of authority.
“Threatening and assaulting a legal practitioner engaged in the lawful representation of a suspect undermines the administration of justice and erodes public confidence in the professionalism of the Police Service,” the petitioner of Yaw Boampong Adu-Brempong further read.
Reliefs sought
Yaw Boampong Adu-Brempong concluded his petition by stating three specific reliefs he seeks from the Inspector General of Police.
“In light of the foregoing, I respectfully petition your high office to urgently investigate the conduct of Mr. Confidence Fiagadzi. Second, remove him from any further involvement in the investigation into Mr. Wilberforce Asare and reassign the matter to another officer to ensure fairness, professionalism, and respect for due process.”
Lastly, “institute appropriate disciplinary proceedings against him under the Police Service disciplinary regulations for conduct unbecoming of a police officer and abuse of authority.
“I trust that your high office will treat this petition with the seriousness it deserves in order to uphold professionalism, accountability, and public confidence in the Ghana Police Service,” the petition read in conclusion.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com