Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has admonished the Speaker of Parliament’s lawyer for what she sees as a delay of the court hearing on the ongoing vacant seat controversy.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Chief Justice questioned Thaddeus Sory, why he had not filed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s documents before the deadline which was supposed to be today, Wednesday, October 30.
According to her, the issue before the judiciary is one of national emergency, hence the need for the legal counsel to be timely.
“This is a constitution crisis, we’re living in a country where the Parliament is not sitting.
“What is going on?” she quizzed.
The Chief Justice therefore charged Mr Sory to file the document before the close of business on Thursday.
She subsequently, adjourned the case to Monday, November 11.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has dismissed an application by Speaker Alban Bagbin, who sought to overturn the Court’s ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
The New Patriotic Party Caucus Leader, Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, initiated the court process after Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
The Speaker’s legal team argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction in this case, among other grounds canvassed in court.
However, after hearing arguments from all parties, including the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Supreme Court maintained that its earlier ruling was appropriate, stating that the Speaker’s appeal was without merit.