EC, Akufo-Addo file witness statements to Mahama’s petition LISTEN 2
The respondents in the 2020 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court have filed their separate witness statements and other processes as directed by the court.
The seven-member panel of the apex court last Wednesday directed the parties for file their witness statement and preliminary objections if any within specific timelines.
The petitioner, former President John Mahama, who is challenging the December 7 elections and his lawyers have since filed a motion for stay of proceedings, despite being asked to file witness statement and other exhibits last Thursday.
In a separate witness statement file by the respondents, the Electoral Commission, which is the 1st Respondent in a 20-paragraph witness statement deposed to by the Chairperson of the Commission Jean Mensa among other things denied vote padding in favour of the 2nd Respondent.
Chief Justice Kwasi Anim Yeboah, has cautioned Mr Tsatsu Tsikata lead Counsel in the Election Petition trial and Dr Dominic Ayine, former Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General, over their conduct in the courtroom.
The Chief Justice (CJ) cautioned Dr Ayine, over his gestures after the Court had made certain orders to the respective lawyers in the matter.
In the case of Mr Tsikata, the CJ said “Mr Tsikata, you are senior member of at the Bar and I do not like the way you conduct yourself through your gestures.”
Dr Ayine then apologised to the Court.
Mr Tsikata argued that the time lines of the Supreme Court was unjustified, saying the Court should have listened to their review application on last Tuesday’s interrogatories, which the Court dismissed unanimously.
There was drama in court on Wednesday during the third sitting of the Presidential Election Petition after the panel of Judges adjudicating the case read out the mode of trial, which seemed to have caught Counsel for the Petitioner by surprise. The Supreme Court panel chaired by Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, the Chief Justice with support from Justice Yaw Appau, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Nene Amegatcher, Prof Nii Ashie Kottey, Justice Mariama Owusu and Justice Gertrude Torkunor, mindful of the C.I 99 to hear the case and give a ruling within a period of 42 days, gave an order for all parties involved in the case to file their witness statement by 12pm, Thursday, January 21, 2021.
The Chief Justice, Justice Anim Yeboah, has cautioned former Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Dominic Ayine over his conduct in court.