Honyenugah must recuse himself from Amewu trial – Tsikata appeals

Tsatsu Tsikata has demanded that Justice Clemence Honyenugah recuses himself from the ongoing trial over the victory of Peter Amewu in the Hohoe parliamentary election.

The five-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau with support from Justice Clemence Hornyenugah, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Gertrude Torkunor and Justice Amadu Tanko are expected to hear the substantive case today

But when the case was called for the substantive case to be heard, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata asked Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself.

According to him, should he fail to do so, they were going to raise an objection for him to recuse himself on grounds that he has a strong personal relationship with John Peter Amewu.

After Justice Honyenugah had indicated to the panel that, he had no personal relationship with the Hohoe Member of Parliament-Elect and that he was not going to recuse himself, Lawyer Tsikata moved his objection.

Moving his objection for Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself, Mr. Tsikata said the Supreme Court judge has “long-standing personal close relationship with Peter Amewu”.

He argued that, they are willing to bring persons before the court to testify in that respect and that if the witnesses are heard, the court will agree with them on why he should recuse himself.

He said Justice Honyenuga cannot be a judge in his own course and that their witnesses are prepared to testify on oath on these matters.

AG objects

Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame while opposing to the objection said, no basis has been established for recusal of any member of the panel.

He said counsel owes it a duty to establish the case of bias against the said judge but has not done so, and that the claims are only premised on “speculative and conjecture.”