Court declines request to halt Mustapha Abdul-Hamid trial for legal vacation
Lawyers for four of the accused persons had asked the court to adjourn proceedings until October, when the regular legal term resumes.
The Accra High Court has ruled that the criminal trial involving former National Petroleum Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, will continue during the legal vacation.
Lawyers for four of the accused persons had asked the court to adjourn proceedings until October, when the regular legal term resumes.
The court declined the request.
The judge held that the case would continue unless Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie withdraws the warrant authorising selected high-profile criminal cases to proceed during the vacation period.
The ruling keeps the trial within the group of cases designated to be heard despite the ongoing judicial recess.
Dr Abdul-Hamid and other accused persons are facing allegations including extortion and related offences involving operators in the petroleum sector.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor alleges that the former NPA boss and others unlawfully obtained money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies.
The accused persons have denied the allegations.
The defence teams had argued for the matter to be suspended during the legal vacation and resumed in October.
However, the court’s position means the proceedings will not be interrupted solely because of the vacation.
The case originally involved Dr Abdul-Hamid and nine others, although recent developments have affected the number of accused persons currently facing the charges.
The decision comes amid wider debate over whether criminal trials should proceed during the legal vacation, especially in cases listed under special arrangements approved by the Chief Justice.
For now, the trial is expected to continue unless there is a change in the administrative warrant permitting the vacation sittings.
