The High Court has temporarily halted hearings in the criminal case against Michael ato Essien, the founder of the now-defunct Capital Bank, while it awaits a decision from the Court of Appeal on an earlier ruling.
The trial court had previously denied an application to halt proceedings due to an ongoing appeal against its decision to admit unsigned documents into evidence.
Baffuor Gyau Bonsu Ashia, lawyer for William Ato Essien, told the court that the processes were filed on May 4, with the Court of Appeal expected to hear the case on May 23, 2022.
In this case, the lawyer urged the Court to adjourn and await the court’s decision.
The trial judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour (JA) said he did not find any clear provisions in the rules of the court whether civil or criminal proceedings that precluded the court from proceeding with the trial since an application for stay of proceedings at the appellate court could not operate as the stay of proceedings itself.
Notwithstanding, his Lordship exercised the court’s discretion to temporarily suspend the hearings.
The court has subsequently adjourned to the 25th of May, 2022 to abide by the decision of the Court of Appeal.
