July 3 has been set aside by the Appeals Court to pronounce judgment on a plea brought before it to begin the case between former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni and the state.

The decision by the court came after an appeal by Attorney General against an earlier decision to have the case begin from scratch.

According to the Court of Appeal as presided over by Justice Philip Bright Mensah, the ruling of the High Court after the case was transferred to a new judge, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah owing to the retirement of Justice Clemence Honyenugah for the case to be started afresh can only be determined after the submissions of the lawyers, and the charge sheets presented which it deems relevant documents to the appeal as filed by the Attorney General.

Arguing in court, the lawyer for Dr. Stephen Opuni, Samuel Cudjoe backed the ruling of the High Court which noted, the records before the court have missing pages hence the need for the appeals court to rule in their favour.

This was supported by counsel for the second accused who noted that such an incomplete record will not allow the court to do justice but this was opposed by the Attorney General on the ticket that the submissions of his learned colleagues are unsupported by any rule of procedure before the court.

It is against this backdrop that the Appeals Court has set July 3, 2023, for its judgment on whether or not the trial is to start afresh.

The Attorney General filed an appeal against the ruling of the Accra High Court to trail the case of causing financial loss to the state as slapped on Dr. Stephen Opuni and Seidu Agongo afresh, arguing that the ruling of the High Court has occasioned a great miscarriage of justice and will affect the efficient trial of the accused.

By: Elvis Andoh | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana