The High Court in Accra has dismissed a request for adjournment filed by the newly appointed counsel for Mildred Donkor, the third accused in the ongoing National Signals Bureau (NSB) case involving the alleged theft of GH¢49 million in state funds.

Presiding judge, Justice John Nyante Nyadu, ruled that the third accused had been granted ample time to secure legal representation and should have adequately briefed her new lawyer before the scheduled hearing.

The court consequently ordered that the motion set for the day be moved.

“I ordinarily would have granted the request if the accused were illiterate,” the judge remarked. “But for someone as literate as she is, who was aware that this case had been adjourned to secure legal representation, it is reasonably expected that she would apprise her lawyer of all pending processes.”

Mr Nutifafa Nutsukpui, appearing in court for the first time on behalf of Donkor, had sought a brief adjournment to familiarise himself with the case documents.

He informed the court that Donkor had officially engaged his services only the previous evening and had brought documents late in the day—some of which were incomplete.

“The accused left our offices around 6pm yesterday [Monday] and brought us documents that she had, but they did not include the application,” Nutsukpui explained. “We didn’t have the time to apply for certified copies to apprise ourselves.”

Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the adjournment, arguing that the engagement of counsel is a deliberate process and should not be used to delay proceedings.

He noted that the motion in question did not directly concern Donkor but related to a disclosure application filed by lawyers for the other accused persons.

“Disclosure is an ongoing process,” the Deputy AG submitted. “When counsel properly enters the matter, he has every right to seek the disclosures relevant to his client.”

The case involves former National Signals Bureau Director, Kwabena Adu-Boahene; his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng; Mildred Donkor; and a fourth accused person. They are on trial for allegedly embezzling GH¢49 million in state funds and using the proceeds to acquire properties.

The case has been adjourned to 31 July 2025.