The Supreme Court has set
Tuesday, February 16, to rule on whether or not 2020 NDC presidential
candidate, John Mahama should be allowed to reopen his case.
The former President’s lawyers
on Monday urged the court to grant their request saying they intend to subpoena
EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa to testify.
This follows an earlier ruling
by the apex court that it cannot compel a party in a case to adduce evidence if
the party does not want to do so.
Arguing his case, lead counsel
for Mr Mahama, Tsatsu Tsikata told the court that allegations of vote padding
and a supposed instruction from the EC Chairperson to their representatives at
the EC strong room have come up during the trial.
He insists these are matters
only the EC Chairperson can speak to.
According to him, they were
taken by surprise when the EC Chairperson opted not to testify after submitting
a witness statement, hence the decision to reopen the case and ask for a
subpoena.
But this request has been
opposed by lawyers for the EC and President Akufo-Addo’s; the 1st and 2nd
Respondents in the election petition hearing.
Both sides insist that the petitioner is simply seeking to
use the back door to boost a petition he has failed woefully to prove.
The two counsels further argued
that if the quest is to provide new evidence, then Mr. Mahama’s team has failed
to demonstrate that there is a piece of evidence they can extract from the EC
Chairperson with the potential to materially affect how the case is determined.
The court has adjourned
proceedings to Tuesday, February 16 to deliver its ruling.
He insists these are matters
only the EC Chairperson can speak to.
According to him, they were
taken by surprise when the EC Chairperson opted not to testify after submitting
a witness statement, hence the decision to reopen the case and ask for a
subpoena.
But this request has been
opposed by lawyers for the EC and President Akufo-Addo’s; the 1st and 2nd
Respondents in the election petition hearing.
Both sides insist that the
petitioner is simply seeking to use the back door to boost a petition he has
failed woefully to prove.
The two counsels further argued
that if the quest is to provide new evidence, then Mr. Mahama’s team has failed
to demonstrate that there is a piece of evidence they can extract from the EC
Chairperson with the potential to materially affect how the case is determined.
The court has adjourned proceedings
to Tuesday, February 16 to deliver its ruling.
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