Ato Essien’s Case Hearing Temporarily Suspended

The criminal case against Michael Ato Essien, the founder of the now-defunct Capital Bank, has been temporarily halted while the Court of Appeal considers an earlier ruling.

The trial court had previously denied a motion to halt the proceedings due to a pending appeal of its decision to allow unsigned documents into evidence.

Baffuor Gyau Bonsu Ashia, a lawyer for William Ato Essien, told the court that the processes were filed on May 4 and that the Court of Appeal would hear the case on May 23, 2022.

In this case, the lawyer urged the court to adjourn and await the court’s decision.

Justice Eric Kyei Baffour (JA), the trial judge, stated that he could not find any clear provisions in the court’s rules, whether civil or criminal, that prevented the court from proceeding with the trial because an application for stay of proceedings at the appellate court could not serve as a stay of proceedings in and of itself.

Regardless, His Lordship used the court’s discretion to temporarily halt the proceedings.

The case was then delayed to May 25, 2022, to follow the Court of Appeal’s verdict.