The incarcerated former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Tsatsu Tsikata, on Thursday engaged the Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, in a battle of Bible quotes in open court. The drama ensued after Joe Ghartey asked the Fast Track High Court to suspend hearing in the case in which Tsikata is seeking to put on a mini trial for bias, Justice Mrs Henrietta Abban, an Appeals Court Judge who presided over the Fast Track High Court that tried and convicted Tsatsu for wilfully causing financial loss to the state on June 18, 2008. Mr. Ghartey’s application and arguments in support of a stay of proceedings drew a charged response from Mr. Tsikata, quoting profusely from passages in the New Testament to sum up his argument. Tsikata had come to court to argue for a mini trial to prove his case of bias against Justice Henrietta Abban. He also wanted to use the trial to explain why Justice Abban should be disqualified from hearing his bail application pending appeal against his conviction. But before he had the chance to make his case, the Attorney General rose with another application to stay Thursday’s hearing. Just then the clock struck 10:30am, a time Tsatsu was required to appear before Justice Henrietta Abban to argue for bail, forcing the court to adjourn briefly. After a hundred metres walk to Justice Abban’s court under heavy security escort, Tsikata was informed that the judge was ill so he should return on July 23. He hurried back to Justice Ofori Atta’s court, and to the beginning of the Bible quotes drama. When hearing resumed, Joe Ghartey argued that Mr. Tsikata’s case for a mini trial should be suspended because it amounted to a duplication of another case pending before the Supreme Court. Tsikata rebutted, accusing the A-G of dishonesty for deliberately giving the judge an incomplete record of proceedings. The arguments turned into heated exchanges with both men shouting on top of their voices. Finally Tsikata made his case but before he took his seat, he told the court he wanted to cite an authority to back his submission. Many in the packed courtroom least expected that authority to be Jesus Christ. Quoting from Luke chapter 12, Tsatsu Tsikata told the court there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. He concluded by saying; ‘do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell.’ The Attorney-General would not be outdone in the battle of Bible quotes, and he also offered Mathew chapter 5, saying that ‘blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.’ The case has been adjourned to July 15 for a ruling on whether Tsatsu can proceed with his application or not. Credit: Evans Mensah, Joy FM