Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director, Kwabena Adu Boahene, has defended his decision to leave the courtroom on Thursday, October 23 while proceedings were ongoing.
Atta Akyea walked out of the High Court in Accra after the trial judge, Justice Eugene Nyadu Nyantei, refused to grant an adjournment.
Speaking to journalists at the court after his courtroom exit, Mr. Atta Akyea explained that he had filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to prohibit Justice Nyantei from continuing with the trial on grounds of alleged bias.
He said he drew the attention of the Judge on the application at the Supreme Court which was set to be heard in a week.
The former Works and Housing Minister contended that once he has made an application at the Supreme Court, it was only proper for the Judge to adjourn the case until the application is determined at the Supreme Court.
“Yesterday, I filed a motion for prohibition in the Supreme Court, saying that we are not comfortable that this Judge will give us justice. I brought it to the attention of the Judge, I also raised an issue that we should adjourn the case and abide the outcome of the application at the Supreme Court.
“The case is just next week in the Supreme Court, the Judge is saying no, he will not grant us the adjournment and that he is ready to continue the case….And I’m caught between the rock and the hard place, how?
“The ambivalence that you want to disqualify a Judge from hearing a case and you sitting to continue the case, I cannot answer in the Supreme Court so I need to leave the Chamber and leave him to do what he wants to do best, that’s why I have left the court,” he stated.
Atta Akyea further questioned the Judge’s motive in proceeding with the case despite a pending motion at the Supreme Court.
“As to why the judge is in an ambulance mood to continue the case and cannot wait for the Supreme Court for one week, it leaves much to be desired,” he added.
