Lawyers of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu (MP) led by Thaddeus Sory have accused the Chief Justice of bias in the case in which the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is seeking an appeal.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi alias Rev Victor Kusi Boateng had filed an appeal on May 10, 2023, challenging the High Court in Accra’s dismissing his Contempt case against the North Tongu MP.
In Court on Tuesday, June 25, lead Counsel for the MP, Thaddeus Sory said events before Tuesday’s Court session pointed to Justice Senyo Dzamefe as the presiding judge.
He argued that the Chief Justice in the exercise of her function cannot revise the panel in the manner she did with Judicial Secretary Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Koranteng as the presiding judge on the matter.
Mr. Sory had argued that the replacement of Justice Dzamefe corroborated an earlier newspaper publication by the Daily Post on Justice Dzamefe.
He pointed out that the Appellant (Rev Kusi Boateng) is the Chief Justice’s Pastor and spiritual father and therefore when a party has “an affinity with the person that determines the panel” and the panel has been reconstituted with the removal of a presiding judge, that cannot be overlooked.
Bobby Banson, Counsel for Rev Kusi Boateng, submitted that, the argument that “there was a panel that was to hear this case and that panel has been reconstituted by a newspaper report is a worst hearsay evidence that cannot be admitted in evidence.”
He wondered who constituted the original panel and whether the Chief Justice had the authority to do that.
Counsel for Rev Kusi Boateng submitted that the objection has no basis and should not be entertained.
Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Koranteng’s panel which also comprised of Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe and Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo has adjourned the case to Wednesday, June 26.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah who was at the Court said, the outcome of the objection would determine what the panel will decide.
Meanwhile, lawyers of the legislature are urging the Court to strike out the Respondent’s (Rev Kusi Boateng) notice of Appeal file on May 10, 2023.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, June 26, 2024, for ruling.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
