General News of Monday, 1 March 2010

Source: GNA

Court of Appeal to rule on the disqualification of MP for Bawku Central

Accra, March 1, GNA - The Court of Appeal (CA) will on Thursday, March 18, decide whether or not to set aside the decision of an Accra Fast Track High Court which disqualified the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Adamu Daramani.

The High Court on July 15, last year, disqualified Daramani, from holding the seat in Parliament.

This was after Daramani had been dragged to the court by a herdsman, Mr. Sumaila Biebil from the constituency who accused him of holding dual citizenship.

Daramani, who appealed against the High Court's decision at the Court of Appeal, contended that the High Court had no jurisdiction over the matter because it was a constitutional issue. He said since it was a constitutional issue, the matter needed to be determined by the Supreme Court.

Daramani who is also challenging Mr. Biebil's capacity to drag him to the court, noted that the writ before the High Court did not also touch on his (Biebil) personal rights explaining that Biebil's matter was an "Electoral Petition dressed in a constitutional action."

When the case was called at the CA on Monday, Mr. Raymond Atugubah who represented Mr. Biebil, and Mr. Yonni Kulendi who represented Daramani, said they were relying on their statement of case and supporting affidavits. The three-member panel comprising Mr. Justice J.P. Akamba (presiding); Mr. Justice C.J. Honyenuga and Mr. Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, therefore, fixed Thursday, March 18 to deliver its judgment.