Kumawood star Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lilwin, has lost his request to temporarily halt the GH¢5 million defamation case filed against him by actress Martha Ankomah.
The High Court in Accra rejected the actor’s application for a stay of proceedings and awarded GH¢5,000 in costs against him.
Lilwin’s legal team had argued that the court proceedings should be paused until the Court of Appeal rules on an interlocutory appeal challenging the jurisdiction and venue of the case. According to them, since the actor resides in Kumasi, the matter should be heard there, not in Accra.
However, lawyers for Martha Ankomah strongly opposed the request, describing it as an attempt to delay justice.
Her counsel, Nii Appiatu Plange, noted that no significant progress had been made on the appeal and that Lilwin had failed to meet the legal threshold for proving “exceptional circumstances” that would justify halting the case.
The presiding judge, Justice Forson Baah Agyapong, agreed, stressing that the application lacked merit.
“The court is of the considered view that no exceptional circumstance has been professed,” he stated in his ruling.
The defamation suit stems from public comments Lilwin allegedly made about Martha Ankomah, which she claims damaged her reputation. Attempts at an out-of-court settlement have already failed.
The court has adjourned the case to June 9, when it will resume hearing the main matter. Audiovisual evidence is expected to be presented in open court.