Vacant seats: Supreme Court adjourns case [Video]

-

The Supreme Court has adjourned to November 11 the case regarding the suit to prevent the ousting of four legislators who went independent in the general election.

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has also given the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin until Wednesday, November 6, to file documents.

This was after the Speaker’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory asked for more time to confer with the Speaker and receive his instructions to help inform when the substantive case will be heard.

Today, the Attorney General urged the Court to discount the Speaker from the case as the AG’s office was in charge of handling public servants’ cases which have to do with constitutional interpretation issues.

On the back of this argument, Godfred Dame prayed the court to go ahead and interpret the matter.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court dismissed an application by Alban Bagbin, who sought to overturn the Court’s ruling that suspended his declaration about the said parliamentarians.

This follows an initial suit filed by Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, challenging the Speaker’s declaration.

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.

“We have considered the application, and we have come to the conclusion that the grounds supporting the application have no merit,” the Chief Justice stated.

Prior to this decision, the Court also dismissed an objection raised by Thaddeus Sory, counsel for the Speaker, regarding the empaneling of Justice Ernest Gaewu.

ALSO READ: