Supreme Court dismisses Woyomes’ application
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an application by Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome to halt the valuation of his property by the State as part of efforts to retrieve the Ghc47.2million owned the State.
Counsel for Mr Woyome, Mr Osafo Boabeng, on Monday filed an application arguing that the writ of execution that the Attorney General (AG) used for the valuation was illegal.
He argued that the AG failed to seek consent from the Supreme Court to renew the writ of execution and, therefore, any action based on that writ was a nullity.
The court, presided over by a single judge, Justice Alfred Anthony Benin, on Friday morning ruled that the AG did nothing wrong because the writ of execution had not expired and was effective.
He said the first writ of execution which was filed on January 9, 2015 was still in effect when the AG filed for another one on January 6, 2016 and, therefore, the issue of renewal did not arise.
The court later adjourned the matter to October 30, for continuation of the oral examination of Mr Woyome by the AG.
Earlier, the court adjourned Sine die an application by Woyome’s counsel for a stay of proceedings and for the court to set aside the ruling by a sole judge for the AG to orally examine his client.
At the last sitting, Mr Woyome failed to appear before the Court for the second phase of the Oral Examination in relation to his indebtedness to the State.
He was expected to appear before the court for the continuation of the Oral Examination by the Attorney General (AG) in relation to his indebtedness to the State.
Late last year, Justice Anin Yeboah sitting as a single judge granted an application brought by former Attorney-General, (A-G) Martin Amidu, seeking to be allowed to orally examine Mr. Woyome.
But before the application could be determined, the A-G initiated fresh processes for the State to be allowed to conduct the oral examination.
This was granted by a Sole Judge, Justice A. A. Benin who ordered the businessman to appear before the Court on June 29 to be orally examined.
The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered the businessman to refund some GH¢51.2 million wrongfully paid to him by the State in 2010 and 2011.
The Court upheld arguments by Mr. Martin Amidu that the contracts which formed the basis for Mr Woyome’s claims against the State and for which he was paid the money, were unconstitutional as it lacked Parliamentary approval.
Mr Woyome promised to pay the money but has since not been able to honour that promise.
Source: GNA