IMANI Africa’s Senior Vice President, Kofi Bentil, has criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what he describes as legally questionable conduct in its handling of matters involving private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, he argued that the OSP must operate within clear legal boundaries and remain open to public scrutiny.
“We make laws for ourselves. We don’t make laws to establish tools for people to oppress us. The OSP must appreciate that it is a public office and is subject to criticism.
“They are not above the law. Anything they do must be properly grounded in the law. I don’t think what is going on is right,” Bentil stated.
His comments come against the backdrop of a long-running dispute between Kpebu and the OSP. The tension stems from Kpebu’s persistent public criticism of the office’s operations, leadership and decision-making under Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
He has repeatedly accused the OSP of abusing its powers, overreaching its mandate, and failing to tackle high-level corruption effectively. The OSP has, in turn, dismissed many of his remarks as misleading, defending its actions as lawful and necessary.
The confrontation escalated on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, when Kpebu was arrested and detained after reporting to the OSP headquarters upon invitation.
He had appeared in relation to corruption allegations he himself had filed against the Special Prosecutor. The OSP later stated that the arrest was based on alleged obstruction, claiming Kpebu “insulted security officers” and hindered them from carrying out their lawful duties.
Bentil argued that Kpebu’s decision to cooperate with the OSP does not diminish his legal rights. “Martin is trying to be as law-abiding as possible. It is possible that, given what is going on, he can refuse to cooperate with the OSP because he has no responsibility to do so,” he said.
He added that the OSP must demonstrate that its actions meet strict legal standards. “They don’t have plenary powers to do whatever they want, however they want. So they should clarify what they are doing and ensure it is rooted in clear legal authority,” Bentil stressed.
