The Cape Coast High Court hearing the dual citizenship case brought against the Assin North Member of Parliament (MP) has set April 12 for case management and the setting down of issues that will govern the conduct of the trial.
The case management conference will be used to trim down issues so parties involved will agree on specific issues to set the grounds for hearing.
Michael Nimfah, on January 6, applied for an interlocutory injunction to restrain James Quayson from being sworn in and holding himself up as MP.
His request was granted by the court but then MP-elect defied court orders and was swornin as member of the 8th Parliament of 4th Republic on January 7, 2021.
One of the issues to be set down for the case will be whether or not Mr Quayson qualified to contest the election at the date he filed his nomination and whether he still can hold himself as MP after his swearing-in.
Abraham Amaliba, counsel for Mr Quayson, had earlier prayed the court for amendment of his answers and applied for April 12 for request to be heard.
However, Justice Kwasi Boakye, the presiding Judge, citing CI 47, indicated that the time was of essence and gave Mr Amaliba three days to amend his answers and send copies to parties involved for them to respond in time before the date set.
Earlier, a scuffle nearly ensued between counsel of the parties when the case was called on March 24 because Frank Davies was unhappy counsel for both First and Second Respondents, who were not present at the last court sitting, failed to serve hima copy of their request to the court for a new date.
Mr Davies described the action of Mr Amaliba as disrespectful to him and the court, saying “at least, he could have sent me a copy of the letter he sent to the court”.
Mr Amalibadid not take the statement from Mr Davies lightly and responded angrily, which resulted in exchange of words between the two cccounsel and it took the intervention of security personnel to separate and calm down the two and after 30 minutes, both lawyers smoked the peace pipe and came back to continue with proceedings in court.
The presiding judge urged the parties to cooperate to ensure expeditious hearing of the case. -GNA
