Tsikata's review case adjourned

Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the case in which the former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Tsatsu Tsikata is challenging the ruling of the Appeal Court which upheld the decision of the Fast Track Court asking him to open his defence.
Mr Tsikata is charged with wilfully causing financial loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the State.
The Supreme Court presided over by Mr Justice William Atuguba adjourned the case to November 3 because a justice of the five-member panel on the case was absent.
Tsikata is also charged with another count of "intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree 1977 (SMCD 140)". He has denied the charges. Tsikata has been admitted to a 700 million-cedi self-recognisance bail.
In March 2003, the Fast Track Court (FTC) presided over by Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban, an Appeal Court Judge sitting on the case as a High Court Judge, overruled a submission of "no case" by Tsikata and ordered the former GNPC Chief Executive to open his defence.
Tsikata then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in November last year but it was dismissed on the grounds that it lacked merit and, therefore, ordered him to go back to the FTC to open his defence. The appellant filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Court's ruling. He also sought relief from the Supreme Court to quash that decision and order, so that the court would uphold his submission of "no case".
Professor E.V.O. Dankwa and Major R. S. Agbenotor (rtd) are representing Mr Tsikata while Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution and Mr Augustine Obour, Assistant State Attorney, are representing the State.