Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 10 March 2016

Source: GNA

Court adjourns review case involving Akaboha

File photoFile photo

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the case in which Prophet Miritaiah Jonah Jehu-Appiah of the Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC), is seeking a review of the judgement upholding his removal as Head of the Church.
The Court adjourned the case to April 14, at the instance of Prophet Jehu-Appiah because he said his lawyer had withdrawn his services.

Mr Gustav Addington, the former lawyer, in a letter addressed to the Court said: “Please take notice that Gustav Addington, counsel for the defendant/appellant/applicant has with due respect to the applicant, withdrawn his services.

“All future processes in the case should be directed to Prophet Jehu-Appiah personally per his address”.

Mr Addington explained that his withdrawal due to personal reasons.

The case for the review of the judgment by the Supreme Court was filed after the highest court of the land by a five-zero decision on November 11, 2015, dismissed an appeal filed by Prophet Jehu-Appiah, against his removal as Akaboha III and the Head Prophet of the MDCC.

The former head challenged the lawfulness of his removal from office, questioning the capacity of the persons, who on the authority of the Church, removed him in January 2002.

Prophet Jehu-Appiah stated in his affidavit that, “The appellate court failed to give a consideration to the fact that the respondents had no capacity to have instituted the case against him. And that the act of the respondents was in sharp conflict with the constitution of the church”.

The court was constituted by Justices William Atuguba, Mrs Sophia Adinyira, Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe, Anthony Benin and Joseph Bawa Akamba.

Prophet Jehu-Appiah, was leader of the MDCC until 2002, when the church received reports of the stated misconduct.

A committee was set up by the Church to investigate the matter after, which the allegations were proven and accordingly he was asked to step aside for the church to operate, but he refused to cooperate.

After his dismissal, the Church filed a suit at a court in Swedru and after hearing that he had been removed, Prophet Jehu-Appiah appealed to the Court of Appeal and the case was dismissed.

He made a similar appeal to the Supreme Court and was again dismissed on November 11, 2015.

He is now seeking for a review of the appeal by the Supreme Court.