Audio By Carbonatix
The controversial suit brought against the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) by Freko FD Limited over its forced take-over of the Kejetial bus Terminal has been placed before the adjudication of another high court judge.
Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood effected the transfer of the case following a petition by KMA against the trial judge, Justice Amo Yartey, accusing him of having vested interest in the case.
Luv Fm’s Erastus Asare Donkor told Joy News the KMA's petition to the Chief Justice was hinged on certain errors they accused Justice Amo Yartey of committing in the hearing of KMA's stay of execution of an ex-parte order to vacate the Kejetia terminal.
Before the court could hear the case on December 5 last year, lawyer for Freko FD Limited, Appiah Enchi, raised an objection explaining the Assembly is already in contempt for disobeying an earlier order to vacate the terminal.
The objection was upheld by the court and KMA was asked to purge itself of the contempt by exiting the terminal before its case could be heard by the court.
Lawyers for KMA led by Thaddeus Sory however maintained that the court should not have entertained the suit since the plaintiff had not given the KMA the mandatory one month notice before commencing the suit.
They also maintained that the order to vacate the terminal was never served on the Assembly, accusing the judge of taking sides in upholding the plaintiff's objection.
The Chief Justice therefore granted the request by transferring the case to Justice Angelina Homiah Mensah of the Commercial Division of the High Court in Kumasi.
In open court on Monday January 13, 2014, Justice Amo Yartey verbally recused himself from the case.
Lawyers of Freko were not available for comments but the spokesperson to the city mayor, Sammy Gyamfi welcomed the transfer of the case to a different judge.
"We are happy that the Chief Justice has intervened in the matter and now the matter has been transferred to another judge. It gives us that comfort that we are at a level playing field", Sammy Gyamfi intimated.
The battle between Freko FD Limited and the KMA for the Kejetia terminal subsequently resumes Monday January 20, 2014 with a change in a presiding judge.
Latest Stories
-
Accra turns white as Dîner en Blanc delivers night of elegance and culture
2 hours -
War-torn Myanmar voting in widely criticised ‘sham’ election
3 hours -
Justice by guesswork is dangerous – Constitution Review Chair calls for data-driven court reforms
3 hours -
Justice delayed is justice denied, the system is failing litigants – Constitution Review Chair
4 hours -
Reform without data is a gamble – Constitution Review Chair warns against rushing Supreme Court changes
4 hours -
Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia’s billionaires on side in the war against Ukraine
5 hours -
Cruise ship hits reef on first trip since leaving passenger on island
5 hours -
UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy
5 hours -
Attack on Kyiv shows ‘Russia doesn’t want peace’, Zelensky says
5 hours -
Two dead in 50-vehicle pile up on Japan highway
5 hours -
Fearing deportation, Hondurans in the US send more cash home than ever before
6 hours -
New York blanketed in snow, sparking travel chaos
6 hours -
Creative Canvas 2025: Documenting Ghana’s creative year beyond the noise
9 hours -
We would have lost that game last season – Guardiola
9 hours -
Nigeria reach AFCON last 16 despite Tunisia fightback
10 hours
