The Supreme Court has adjourned indefinitely the case involving chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
This was after it came to the notice of the court that the bailiff failed the serve the NDC and its chairman with the notice of hearing.
The five-member panel presided over by Justice Victor Jones Dotse also directed that the appropriate sanctions should be instituted against the bailiff for his inability to serve the applicants.
When the case was called on Tuesday the NDC chairman and his legal team were absent from court.
Only the director of public prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, was present when the case was called; all other parties were absent.
Following the panel’s enquiries of reasons for the turn of events it was revealed that the bailiff failed to serve the applicants with the notice of hearing.
This led the presiding judge Justice Jones Dotse to adjourn the case sine die.
“We are just informed that there are some incidents, the applicants have not been served with the documents hence their absence.
“As the applicants have not been served, the case has been adjourned sine die,” Justice Dotse said.
Background
The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is standing trial for a leaked audiotape, where conversations about causing mayhem in the country were discussed.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has however pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and conspiracy to cause harm in the high court.
The NDC Chairman filed an application at the Supreme Court after the first prosecution witness, Benjamin Osei Ampofo, denied knowledge of a statement presented by prosecution. The statement bore the signature of Mr. Osei Ampofo but he insisted in court that it was brought to him to sign without being told it was part of investigations.
This led to a heated argument between the prosecution and defense lawyers who felt the court should not admit the statement.
However, the trial judge, Justice Kwame A. Asiedu, dismissed the objection by the defense team and admitted the statement, saying the statement was signed by the witness, thereby making it valid.
Not satisfied with the court decision, the accused NDC chair filed an appeal challenging the decision of the trial judge at the Supreme Court.
By Selorm Amenyah|3news.com|Ghana