Court Over-rules Tsatsu's "No Case" Submission

An Accra Fast Track Court has overruled the submission of "no case" made by counsel for former GNPC boss, Tsatsu Tsikata. Mr Tsikata is standing trial for allegedly causing the loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the state during his term of office.

Mrs Justice Abban, an Appeal Court Judge with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge told the court that she was not obliged to give reasons for her ruling.

Tsatsu’s lawyers made a submission of no case after the prosecution closed its case. But Mrs Justice Abban stated that at the close of the evidence in support of the charge, the court found that sufficient case was made against the accused that required him to make a defence. She, therefore, asked him to open his defence.

However, Mr Tsikata’s team of lawyers led by Professor Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwa, announced that they would appeal against the ruling next week.

The Prosecution led by Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, reminded the court that the defence should not verbally appeal against the ruling and prayed the court that this should be put into writing for record purposes.

Mr Tsikata is alleged to have caused the loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the state during his term of office. He is charged with four counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state and intentionally misapplying public property. He has denied the charges and the court has admitted him to a 700 million-cedi self-recognisance bail. The case has been adjourned to Monday, April 7.