NDC's Joinder Application: S C Adjourns Hearing; NPP Raises Objection To Panel Composition

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Created on Thursday, 10 January 2013 00:00

NDC's Joinder Application: S C Adjourns Hearing; NPP Raises Objection To Panel Composition

10 Jan 2013

The Supreme Court has adjourned sine dine the hearing of the preliminary joinder motion filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seeking to join the petition by the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, challenging the Electoral Commission's (EC's) declaration of President John Mahama as winner of the December 7 presidential poll as a respondent.

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This was after lawyers for the petitioners raised objection to the composition of the panel of judges sitting on the case. They argued that the composition of the court, presided over by Justice William Atuguba, is skewed against them.

Lawyers for the three petitioners had asked for the hearing on the composition in chambers or in camera but the Court asked the NPP to raise its challenge to the panel composition in a motion.

The adjournment of the case is to allow the petitioners to file their motion formally stating their case against the constitution of the panel.

Nine Justices of the Supreme Court were empaneled to sit on the case. They include; Justice Sophia A. B. Akuffo (Ms.), Justice Julius Ansah, Justice Annin-Yeboah, Justice Jones V. M. Dotse, Justice Rose C. Owusu (Ms.), Justice S. O. Adinyira (Mrs), Justice Mrs. Vida Akoto-Bamfo, Justice P. Baffoe Bonnie. It was chaired by Justice William Atuguba.

The NPP was represented in court by Philip Addison, Gloria Akufo, Fred Davis, Akoto Ampem, Kwame Akufo, Nana Asante Bediatuo, Godfred Dame, Egbert Faible, and Prof. Ken Attafuah.

The NDC was also represented by Tsatsu Tsikata, Sam Kudjoe, and Barbara Asamoah while the President was represented by Tony Lithur, Marita Brew and Dr. Abdul Basit Bamba.

The Electoral Commission’s legal team was led by James Idun Quashie and Stanley Amartefio.

An unimpressed Justice Atuguba who seemed unhappy with the NPP's request to hear their objection in chambers said: "This country is solid but [it] is breaking down because principles are being chopped down to pedestrian levels."

He said the court is a property of the public and therefore has no right to function privately. The judges however heard the NPP's objection in chambers before directing the lawyers to file an official motion on their misgivings of the court.

Source: PeaceFM