General News of Tuesday, 14 November 2017

Source: todaygh.com

Woyome again! Wants 5-panel judge

Woyome Woyome

In what observers have described as legal gymnastics, embattled businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, has, once again, filed a fresh suit at the Supreme Court, seeking to halt all processes intended to retrieve the GH¢51 million judgment debt wrongfully paid to him by the state.

This is the sixth application he has filed since the beginning of his oral examination by the Attorney General.

In this latest suit, Mr Woyome is praying the apex court to empanel five justices of the bench to hear his case.

He also wants the court to put on hold all processes to reclaim the money from him until a determination of another related case being heard at the African Court.

Mr Woyome, who was expected to continue with the oral examination on how he intends to re-pay the judgment debt, did not show up in court yesterday, claiming that he was unwell.

The Supreme Court on October 20, 2017 dismissed an application by Mr Woyome which sought to stop the seizure and valuation of his properties by the state.

The Supreme Court made the ruling in an application he had filed to stop the government from continuing with moves to seize and value his properties.

Mr. Woyome’s application followed state officials storming one of his residences at Trasacco to value the property.

The court presided over by a sole Judge, Justice Alfred Benin, described the application as one without merit hence his decision.

The ruling by the court paved way for the state to continue with the valuation of the properties of Mr Woyome in its quest to retrieve the monies he owes the state.

The NDC financier is facing an oral examination since November 2016 to help the state determine where his assets are located.

His Kokomlemle home was identified by the state but the businessman denied owning the house.

The Supreme Court in July granted an order imposing a charge on any and all shares held by Mr Woyome in some 11 companies in which he has beneficial interests.

Deputy Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has expressed frustrations over delays to discover his assets.

The fight to get Mr Woyome’s money back was a private campaign by Martin A.B.K. Amidu who as Attorney-General in the Mills-led NDC government was dismissed for what many believe was his attempt to get the money back.

Martin Amidu won a judgment from the Supreme Court in 2014 directing a refund of the monies.

His relentless campaign only ended by the NDC government losing power in the 2016 general election.

Martin Amidu, now a known anti-corruption crusader, has expressed confidence in the NPP government to finish what he began about four years ago at the cost of his once high standing within the NDC.