Samuel Atta Akyea, the lead counsel for former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director Kwabena Adu Boahene, has defended his choice to exit the High Court in Accra on Thursday, October 23, after the trial judge, Justice Eugene Nyadu Nyantei, declined to grant an adjournment.
In a statement to journalists following the dramatic departure from the courtroom, Mr. Atta Akyea indicated that his legal team had submitted an application to the Supreme Court, seeking to prevent Justice Nyantei from continuing with the trial due to alleged bias.
He contended that it was appropriate for the High Court to pause proceedings until the apex court made a ruling on the issue.
“I had filed for a prohibition motion in the Supreme Court, expressing our discomfort with the notion that this judge would deliver justice. I brought this to the judge’s attention. I also suggested that we should adjourn the case and await the Supreme Court’s decision on our application. The judge responded that he would not grant the adjournment and would proceed with the case,” he remarked.
The former Minister of Works and Housing criticized what he termed the judge’s “unnecessary haste” in advancing the case despite the pending motion at the Supreme Court.
“Inquire why the judge is in such a rush to continue the case and cannot wait for the Supreme Court for just one week,” he stated.
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Esi Dentaa Yankah, had opposed the adjournment request, asserting that there was no legal basis to pause the proceedings.
Despite the exit of the defense team, Justice Nyantei ordered that the case continue, with the second prosecution witness taking the stand.
The legal impasse now awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling on the prohibition motion submitted by Mr. Atta Akyea and his team.
Kwabena Adu Boahene, along with his spouse Angela Adjei Boateng and two additional individuals, is confronted with several charges. These charges include theft, money laundering related to an alleged amount of GH¢49.1 million, intentionally causing financial loss to the state, and misuse of public office.
The third accused individual, Mildred Donkor, has subsequently become a witness for the prosecution following the Attorney-General’s decision to withdraw the charges against her.
