Even before he was dragged formally to court to face charges of neglecting responsibility towards a six-month-old child he allegedly fathered, Rev Father Yves -Lucien Evaga Njana appears to be frantically doing everything possible to free himself from the grips of the law.

In an exclusive interview with Weekend Finder, the paper that first broke the story last week, Father Njana claimed that the lady at the centre of the controversy “came prepared for sex” the first day she visited him at home.

According to Father Njana, Josephine came to his residence with no panties on, an indication that she was fully prepared for sex, but how he got to know his guest was without panties still remains a mystery.

When the case came up for hearing at an Accra Family Court last Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Gloria Naa Bortor Laryea, ordered the court’s registrar to serve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration with the suit for the diplomatic immunity of the priest to be waived.

The presiding judge indicated that the action that was brought against the Catholic priest be served on the Foreign Ministry through the Chief Protocol Office for them to apply to the Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM), the organisation the priest works with, for his immunity to be waived so he can appear before the court.

But checks conducted by Weekend Finder at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that it is only the country or mission that sent the Rev Father into the country that has the powers to waive his diplomatic immunity.

Further checks on the internet indicate that the Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM), of which Rev Father Njana is a director, has been duly recognised by the Vatican.

Information gleaned from the organisation’s website indicates that BICAM was formally established on July 5, 1981 at the organisation’s General Assembly for the promotion of Biblical Apostolate in Africa and Madagascar.

During the 12th Plenary Assembly in Dakar, Senegal, in October 2003, the bishops decided to move the headquarters of BICAM from Nairobi to Accra, Ghana. The decision was implemented on June 30, 2004.

Speaking to the media, lawyer for the applicant, Mr Francis Xavier Sosu said BICAM has the right to either waive the diplomatic immunity or not. “If they choose not to waive, the ministry could make an application for the bishop to be sent out of the jurisdiction.”

Given the nature of the work BICAM does, Mr Sosu indicated that it will be prudent for his immunity to be waived so that the priest can be subjected to the jurisdiction of the court for the truth of the matter to be established.

The Catholic priest, who was not in court personally, was, however, represented by his lawyer, Mr Azanne Kofi Akainyah, who told the court that they were willing to go through the process and that his client was not present in court due his diplomatic immunity, and added that once those technicalities were settled, they will avail themselves for hearing.

The case, which was heard in-camera, has been adjourned to May 10, 2016.