Editorial News of Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Source: --

Malam Issa's case goes to Supreme Court

The Chronicle says dissatisfied with Justice Julius Ansah's two consecutive rulings in the ongoing trial at an Accra High Court over the mysterious loss of $46,000 belonging to the state, the ex-Minister of Youth and Sports Mallam Yussif Issah, who is charged before the court, has challenged the orders of the court and moved to the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court.

The Fast Track Court will hear a submission by Mr Ambrose Dery, counsel for the accused, today challenging the court on matters of law and praying the court to the issue of submission of no case. The High Court had invited the accused to open his case after the prosecution had closed its case, last week.

Counsel for the accused has also filed a motion in the Supreme Court for the constitutional interpretation of one of the charges slapped on the accused.

The charge of fraudulently causing financial loss to the state, according to the defence team, was vague and unconstitutional. He has therefore asked the Supreme Court to restrain the High Court till the final determination of the case.

The court had earlier on overruled a submission by Dery that the charge was unconstitutional.