“Nobody’s Face Is a Warrant” — Nitiwul Blasts NIB Over Failed Arrest of MP Without Court Order

Immediate past Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, has delivered a scathing rebuke of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), accusing the agency of gross abuse of power following a failed and warrantless attempt to arrest the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, at his residence in Spintex, Accra.

The attempted arrest, which occurred late Wednesday, has drawn outrage across the political divide and reignited national concerns over the use of state security agencies to intimidate political opponents.

Nitiwul, appearing on Joy News’ PM Express, recounted how he was alerted to the situation by a fellow lawmaker who reported that the home of the Assin South MP—also the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee—had been surrounded by over 15 heavily armed men, allegedly from the NIB.

“I got a call from one of my colleagues that Rev. Fordjour’s house had been surrounded by people believed to be from the NIB. There were so many security personnel—over 15. It was alarming,” Nitiwul said.

Startled by the development, the Bimbilla MP, who held the defence portfolio until the change of government in January, rushed to the scene, partly out of duty and partly out of concern for the escalating situation.

“I felt responsible. I’ve worked with many of these officers before, and as the immediate past minister, I thought I could help calm things down.”

Nitiwul said he was stunned to find out that no arrest warrant had been secured for the operation. His enquiries were met with an unsettling response from the NIB officer leading the team.

“I asked them a simple question—do you have a warrant? And their response was shocking. The man leading the team said he’s a senior officer and that his face alone is a warrant,” Nitiwul disclosed, visibly dismayed.

“It was unbelievable. We had lawyers present who immediately objected, pointing out that in a democracy, no one’s face is a substitute for legal process.”

The scene, he said, was tense and surreal, with many of the NIB operatives masked and dressed in plain clothes, adding a layer of intimidation and mystery to the operation.

“I couldn’t understand why they were hiding their faces. This is Ghana. If you’re carrying out a lawful operation, why the secrecy?”

What made the situation even more troubling for the former minister was the involvement of Charles Alhassan Kipo, the director-general of the NIB, whom he says he personally trusted with highly sensitive assignments during his time in government.

“He was my senior. I respected him. We worked closely, and I never imagined he would approve something like this. It’s extremely disappointing.”

Nitiwul maintained that such actions reflect a dangerous culture of impunity and represent a clear violation of the rights of an elected Member of Parliament.

“If we allow this to stand, tomorrow it could be any MP, any citizen. The law is the law. Nobody, no matter how senior, is above it. Nobody’s face is a warrant in this country.”

The attempted arrest has provoked a wave of criticism, with civil society groups, lawyers, and political figures questioning the motive behind the operation and demanding an independent probe into the NIB’s conduct.

Opposition lawmakers, particularly those from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have accused the John Mahama-led administration of using the NIB as a political tool to target dissenters and neutralise vocal members of the minority in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the target of the operation, has not spoken publicly, but sources close to him describe the ordeal as traumatising and unlawful.

Nitiwul insists that while the country may be politically divided, democratic principles must remain non-negotiable.

“We must never get to a place where a security officer can say his ‘face’ replaces due process. That is how democracies die. If anyone has done wrong, go to court, get a warrant, and follow the law.”

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