Election petition: EC moves to close case after Rojo Mettle-Nunoo's cross-examination
- The Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, was expected to be cross-examined after the petitioner’s witnesses
- But the EC’s lawyer hinted they were closing their case, a move the petitioner’s lawyers objected to fiercely
- The petitioner is before the apex court to have the results of the 2020 presidential elections set aside
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Justin Amenuvor, the lawyer for the Electoral Commission (EC) in the 2020 election petition trial has moved for the closure of the case.
Addressing the court after the cross-examination of Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, John Dramani Mahama’s third witness in the trial, Amenuvor said the commission does not wish to lead any further evidence in the case.
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“It is the first respondent’s case that we do not wish to lead any further evidence and therefore we are praying that this matter proceeds under Oder 36 Rule 43 and CI 87 rule 3 (e) 5, we hereby and on that basis close our case,” he stated.
Amenuvor’s move was strongly objected to by the Tsastu Tsikata, who is representing John Mahama, the petitioner in the case.
The two counsels will address the seven-member panel on the EC’s move.
Hearing was adjourned to Tuesday, February 8, 2021.
Meanwhile, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo told the Court that he was given tea while waiting for the Chairperson for the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, when he sought audience with her during the collation for the 2020 presidential election.
He made the disclosure when the lawyer for the commission, Justin Amenuvor, said while there, he was offered tea and biscuit.
“I was offered only tea,” he retorted.
He further noted he has a temperament that makes him want to fight for fairness.
John Mahama’s third witness in the ongoing election petition trial made the remark during a heated cross-examination with the lawyer of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justine Amenuvor.
Not enthused by the confrontational nature of the witness, Amenuvor informed him that he was being disrespectful to the court.
Mettle-Nunoo then replied: “I have a temperament that makes me want to fight for fairness and justice and that is what I’m doing…”
He further rejected a suggestion by the EC lawyer that he was not being truthful in his testimony. According to him, to the best of his knowledge, it is the EC that is “not being truthful.”
Mettle-Nunoo was one of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) representatives in the EC’s Strong Room. He was there with Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Mahama’s second witness in the trial.
The two claimed in their witness statements that they were instructed to go and consult the former president regarding disputes they had with some of the results trooping in from the regions, only for the presidential results to be declared.
Mettle-Nunoo further claimed that officials of the election management body misled him into signing some of the collation sheets.
The EC chair had since her December 9 declaration of the presidential results reportedly had multiple threats on her life.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko disclosed this in reaction to a comment by the president and founder of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, on the security beef up around the EC boss.
Cudjoe asked her to resign after the ongoing election petition hearing, explaining that it was unhealthy to be distrusted and be guarded by “loads of soldiers” each time she is going to work.
Akufo-Addo defeated Mahama in the election by collecting 51.302% of the votes cast against the latter’s 47.359%. The votes difference between the two candidates stood at 517, 231, representing a four percentage point, one of the highest since 1996.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
