NDC Seeks Out-of-Court Settlement

Linus (left in smock) with his lawyer leaving the court 

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is seeking an out-of-court settlement in a case in which a party member, Linus Njonolah, had secured an interlocutory injunction on the party's national and regional polls.

Counsel for the NDC, Victor Adawudu, disclosed on Friday that he had verbally told Felix Datsumo, lawyer for the complainant, that the ruling party was prepared to settle the matter out of court for peace to prevail.

 
Linus' Beef
Linus Njonolah applied for an interlocutory injunction to be placed on the NDC's upcoming elections on the grounds that some key party regulations were being breached. His application was eventually granted by the court.

According to him, the current party executives had overstayed their term and that the new party guideline for the party's upcoming elections was illegal.

 
Adjournment
The High Court 2 in Kumasi, presided over by Justice Jacob Boon, on Friday adjourned the case to October 10, 2014.

The court would decide on that day as to whether to strike out Linus' case as being demanded by the defendants or to grant the complainant's motion for an interim injunction to be placed on the party's polls.

 
NDC Lawyer
Addressing a section of the media in Kumasi right after leaving the High Court room, Mr. Adawudu said, 'We have extended an olive branch to Linus; he is a family member.

'If he is aggrieved, why not, we shall sit down with him, allow reason to prevail so that we can settle this matter even before October 10, 2014 when we are supposed to return to court.'

Mr. Adawudu said again that he had even spoken to counsel of Linus about the NDC's decision for an out-of-court settlement, expressing confidence that the two parties could reach a compromise before October 10.

The NDC lawyer stated that if Linus and his lawyer refused to allow reason to prevail, then the party would have no other option than to face them in court.

 
Linus' Lawyer
Felix Datsumo, counsel for the complainant, confirmed that Mr. Adawudu had 'informally whispered into my ears about an out-of-court settlement. But at least there should be a formal request for us to sit on the table.'

He pointed out that 'There are some reliefs that we want to seek from the court and if the terms of the settlement will conform to those reliefs, then we shall have the matter settled out of court.'

Felix Datsumo, however, sounded a strong word of caution that 'If they introduce something which would not help the interest of my client and the party (NDC) then I don't think we shall agree to that.'

 
Court
The interlocutory injunction that was granted to Linus expired on Friday and so the complainant and his lawyer had filed a fresh motion of an interim injunction on the NDC polls.

The respondents had also filed a motion in response, praying the court to strike out the writ of summons.

The court therefore adjourned the case to October 10 when the motions of the complainant and the respondent would be heard by the court before it gives its ruling.

Polls
Mr. Adawudu said the NDC is a law-abiding political party and so they would wait until the court's verdict on October 10 to determine when the party would hold its polls.

The legal practitioner, who sounded positive, reiterated that he was confident that the complainant and the defendant could settle the case even before October 10.

 
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi