Court holds Appiah-Kubi to Wontumi brief in criminal trial
The High Court has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking to withdraw as legal counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the ongoing criminal proceedings linked to Akonta Mining
The High Court has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking to withdraw as legal counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the ongoing criminal proceedings linked to Akonta Mining.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the court held that the application lacked the legal basis required to justify the withdrawal and had not complied with the necessary procedural requirements.
The court noted that Appiah-Kubi had failed to cite any statutory provision, legal authority or judicial precedent in support of his request. It further observed that the application had not been served on his client, a step it described as fundamental in matters concerning legal representation.
According to the court, the relationship between a lawyer and a client in criminal proceedings is governed by established legal procedures, which must be strictly followed before counsel can be discharged from a case.
The ruling means Appiah-Kubi remains counsel of record for Chairman Wontumi as the case proceeds.
The application followed Appiah-Kubi's public announcement that he intended to withdraw from the case, citing concerns over the conduct of the proceedings and expressing dissatisfaction with aspects of the court's handling of the matter.
He had indicated that certain decisions and determinations made during the trial influenced his decision to step aside.
However, the court found that the application did not meet the threshold required for withdrawal and consequently dismissed it.
The substantive criminal case, which centres on allegations involving Akonta Mining, is expected to continue without interruption.
The court has directed all parties to file their final written addresses by June 24, ahead of judgment scheduled for July 3.
Unless a fresh application is made and granted in accordance with the law, Appiah-Kubi will continue to represent Chairman Wontumi for the remainder of the proceedings.