The Convener for the Justice and Accountability Forum, Nana Bonsu, has reiterated that lawyers representing Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, are deliberately attempting to delay the Samreboi case.
According to Bonsu, the calculated twists surrounding the delay became glaringly obvious when the previous defence counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, announced his decision to withdraw.
Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Bonsu noted that after Appiah-Kubi initially failed to secure a court-approved withdrawal, he eventually stepped down, allowing Samuel Atta Akyea to take over the defence.
Speaking to host Josh Kwabena Agyapong, Bonsu stated that “whatever they are doing is a well-orchestrated attempt to delay the case so Chairman Wontumi will have the free hand to be elected as party chairman, so he will use that as an advantage over the matter.”
Atta Akyea has since appealed to the presiding judge to postpone the 3 July date set for judgement, arguing that he has not been provided with all the necessary documents to familiarise himself with the case.
However, Nana Bonsu maintained that the court must not entertain these tactics, warning that encouraging such behavior would open the floodgates for other accused persons to deploy identical strategies to obstruct justice.
He insisted that the case must proceed exactly as announced, without any extensions.
Asserting that the rule of law must prevail, Bonsu emphasised that the court has a responsibility to stick strictly to its scheduled timeline. He stressed that “we are expecting that on July 3, the judge will deliver the judgement. If we allow him to have his way, he may soon demand to be allowed to present new issues, recall witnesses, and push the case in a manner that will undermine the issue. July 3 should remain July 3.”
Expressing deep frustration over the current turn of events, Bonsu drew parallels to the defence used in the Exim Bank case, labeling the argument that the loan-funded farms were destroyed by flooding as a ridiculous claim.
He demanded that Andy Appiah-Kubi be made to provide the closing submissions, given that he had handled the case until its final stages. If the new defence counsel is facing difficulties, Bonsu suggested he should simply seek guidance from his predecessor rather than holding up the court.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana