Opuni Case: AGs motion for review upheld, Honyenuga JSC reinstated
In a ruling by Dotse JSC, the Supreme Court review panel by a 4-3 majority indicated that claims of bias against Justice Clemence Honyenuga made by Dr.Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD were unfounded thereby overturned the court’s earlier decision.
The Supreme Court has upheld a motion for review filed by the Attorney General, Godfred Dame.
By a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court also dismissed the application for Justice Jones Dotse to recuse himself from the review panel.
In a ruling by Dotse JSC, the Supreme Court review panel by a 4-3 majority indicated that claims of bias against Justice Clemence Honyenuga made by Dr.Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD were unfounded thereby overturned the court’s earlier decision.
Therefore, Justice Clemence Honyenuga JSC, sitting as an additional High Court judge will continue to preside over the criminal trial involving Dr.Stephen Opuni, former COCOBOD CEO, and others.
The review panel was put together to hear the AG’s motion for review against a July decision directing Justice Clemence Honyenuga JSC(sitting as an additional High Court Justice) to step aside from the Stephen Opuni case.
Barely hours to today’s ruling on the AGs motion, lawyers for Dr. Stephen Opuni filed an application seeking Justice Jones Dotse’s recusal from the Supreme Court review panel.
On October 12, 2021, the apex court sat on a review application filed by the Attorney General relative to a July 28, 2021 decision that saw a 3-2 majority decision by the court.
The AG applied for a review of the said decision which culminated in an order prohibiting Justice Honyenuga from presiding on the Opuni trial per an application filed in June this year by the former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni to that effect.
The Attorney General has meanwhile welcomed the ruling noting that it is in order.
