General News of Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Source: Joy Online
Lawyers for Nana Akufo-Addo and two others, and those of President John Mahama say they are all ready and prepared for a landmark ‘battle of the brains’ at the Supreme Court this month.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday set April 16 to trial a petition brought by NPP’s flagbearer in the 2012 elections Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and party chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey. The three are challenging the outcome of the presidential election which saw President Mahama being declared winner by the country’s Electoral Commission.
The court has asked the petitioners in the case to file affidavit of witnesses they intend to call on or before 7th April. The respondents would have five days to file theirs after they have been served.
Meanwhile, a member of the petitioners’ legal team, Gloria Akuffo has described today’s proceedings as good for the election petition.
“We (petitioners) are not worried, provided that we are happy, it is on the record, our application is there, it is quite clear what things we want the court to look at. The court understands what we want to guide the proceedings.”
However, Madam Gloria Akuffo told Joy FM’s Top Story they were disappointed the court could not grant their request to make audiovisual presentation, which she said could have ensured expeditious trial. The court had explained they were not equipped for such presentation.
Asked if the legal team is ready for the trial, she stated: “Definitely we are ready…we are ready with that; what is left is putting the affidavit of the witnesses together.”
The NDC legal team was also happy with today’s proceedings. Victor Adawudu, a member of the party’s legal team, explained the indication of today’s sitting. “The parties, that is, Nana Akufo-Addo, Jake and Dr Bawumia with the respondents are entitled to give oral evidence: that means that they will be in the witness box, they will give their evidence in chief, we will cross examine, we will reexamined as the normal court process goes.”
He indicated on Top Story that “we are more than ready…I think we are far, far ready because we want to also prove to the whole world that yes we won the election, and it was valid and we were elected”.
He was however confident that if there were any irregularities as claimed by the petitioners, “it will not really affect the final determination of the matter.”