Lawyers representing Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, have filed an appeal challenging her recent 15-year prison sentence, arguing that the ruling was “harsh, unreasonable, and unsupported by the evidence.”

The appeal, lodged at the Amasaman High Court on Monday, July 7, seeks to overturn both the conviction and the sentence delivered by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah of Circuit Court 10 in Accra on July 3.

Nana Agradaa, a controversial self-styled evangelist and former fetish priestess, was convicted on one count of charlatanic advertisement and two counts of defrauding by false pretense under Sections 137(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

In the appeal, her legal team contends that the trial process was flawed and violated her constitutional right to a fair hearing. They argue that the judge failed to consider mitigating factors in sentencing and that the judgment lacked adequate evidential backing.

“The conviction and sentence should be set aside as the judgment is unreasonable and cannot be supported by the evidence on record,” the appeal states.

The lawyers also accuse the trial judge of demonstrating “manifest bias and personal animosity” towards Agradaa. They claim this was evident through frequent confrontations and what they describe as the harassment of defense counsel during open court sessions.

As a result, they argue that their client was denied adequate and effective legal representation, and that the overall conduct of the proceedings undermined the integrity of the trial.

The Amasaman High Court is yet to set a date for the hearing of the appeal. Meanwhile, Nana Agradaa remains in custody at Nsawam Prison following her conviction.