The Supreme Court has dismissed an objection raised by the lawyer for residents of SALL, Tsatsu Tsikata asking one of the empanelled judges, Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga to recuse himself in the case where the Attorney General is challenging an injunction placed on the Member of Parliament-elect for Hohoe, John Peter Amewu.
It was the case of Mr. Tsikata that there is a real likelihood of bias on the part of Justice Honyenuga due to his long-standing relationship with John Peter Amewu.
Mr. Tsikata had earlier argued that the practice of the court in such issues makes way for trial within the trial to allow the party raising the objection to establish their case of bias or otherwise.
But the Justices in their ruling said there is no substance in the allegation of bias brought against Justice Honyenuga.
According to them, there is no established relationship between the apex court judge and the MP-elect as alleged by Mr. Tsikata.
The Justices further added that, although Mr. Amewu, may be a beneficiary of the case, he is not a party to the matter.
The State through a Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame, filed a motion last week to fight an injunction placed by the Ho High Court on his swearing-in.
The injunction was granted after some residents of SALL argued that the Electoral Commission’s failure to allow them to vote in the just-ended parliamentary elections amounted to a breach of their rights.
They said, the creation of the Oti Region, coupled with a recent Supreme Court decision and failure of the EC to create a constituency for them, meant they did not vote for a parliamentary candidate in the just-ended election.
Background
The State through Godfred Dame filed a motion last Wednesday to fight an injunction placed on the swearing-in of Mr. Amewu by the Ho High Court.
The injunction was granted after some residents of SALL argued that the Electoral Commission’s failure to allow them to vote in the just-ended parliamentary elections amounted to a breach of their rights.
They said, the creation of the Oti Region, coupled with a recent Supreme Court decision and failure of the EC to create a constituency for them, meant they did not vote for a parliamentary candidate in the just-ended election.
