Lawyers of former National Signal’s Bureau Director Kwabena Adu-Boahene, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, were compelled to proceed with the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness after an attempt to halt the trial was dismissed.
Samuel Atta Akyea was seeking the court to adjourn the trial pending the determination of the review of the apex court’s decision against the injunction filed by the Ofoase Ayirebi Member of Parliament.
Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, are on trial for offences of stealing, causing financial loss to the state, using public funds and money laundering.
They have pleaded not guilty and are on bail.
In court on Tuesday, August 25, lead counsel for Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, prayed the court to adjourn the proceedings, citing that Kojo Oppong Nkrumah had on Monday, August 24, filed a repeat injunction application before a three-member panel of the Supreme Court to review an earlier ruling which rejected his quest to challenge the Chief Justice warrant issued to some High Court judges to hear cases during the legal vacation.
Atta Akyea noted that the application was due to be heard on September 2 and had a direct bearing on the trial.
But Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the prayer and urged the court to dismiss it. He argued that the apex court had already determined the substantive injunction application on the legal vacation; hence, a review application must not automatically suspend the proceedings.
After hearing arguments from both sides, presiding judge Justice Francis Apanga Achibonga indicated that there was no rule requiring the suspension of trial in such circumstances. He then subsequently dismissed the prayer for adjournment and ordered Samuel Atta Akyea to proceed with the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness.
By Laud Adu-Asare
