The High Court in Accra has adjourned the trial involving former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, to August 25, 2026.
The decision follows an application before the Supreme Court seeking to prevent the High Court from hearing the case during the ongoing legal vacation. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the injunction application on August 20, 2026.
The couple is facing prosecution over the alleged diversion of GH¢49.1 million intended for the procurement of a cyber-defence system.
Kwabena Adu-Boahene Faces Multiple Charges
Kwabena Adu-Boahene has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for personal gain and obtaining public property by false pretences.
His wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, has also pleaded not guilty to charges including collaboration to use public office for personal gain, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
Defence Requests Adjournment
When the case came before the High Court on August 17, 2026, Peter Osei-Asamoah, who appeared on behalf of the substantive defence lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, requested an adjournment.
The court was told that Mr Atta Akyea had written to the court on August 14, explaining that other professional commitments prevented him from appearing during the legal vacation.
According to the defence, the request was intended to ensure that the accused persons received adequate legal representation as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai opposed the request. He argued that the absence of the lead defence lawyer should not stop the proceedings because other lawyers from his firm could represent the accused persons.
The Deputy Attorney-General also maintained that the High Court had already directed that the case should continue during the legal vacation.
Supreme Court Injunction Application
The defence subsequently drew the court’s attention to the pending injunction application before the Supreme Court.
Counsel explained that the application specifically sought to restrain the High Court from continuing with the trial during the legal vacation, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear the matter on August 20.
The defence clarified that it was not claiming that the Supreme Court had already issued an injunction. Instead, it asked the High Court to temporarily hold proceedings in abeyance until the Supreme Court determined the application.
Dr Srem-Sai disagreed, arguing that simply filing an injunction application does not automatically suspend proceedings before a lower court.
He maintained that an injunction only becomes effective after a court issues an order. He further argued that challenges to proceedings before a lower court should ordinarily be pursued through appropriate judicial review procedures, including certiorari or prohibition.
High Court Puts Trial on Hold
In his ruling, Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga rejected the request to adjourn the case to the next legal term, noting that such a decision would push the matter to October and undermine the purpose of his appointment as a vacation judge.
The judge also stated that the absence of lead counsel should not necessarily prevent other lawyers within the same law firm from representing the accused persons.
However, on the Supreme Court injunction application, Justice Achibonga took a different position.
Although he acknowledged that filing an injunction application does not automatically stay court proceedings, he held that it would be inappropriate for a lower court to continue an action that a superior court had been asked to restrain until the superior court had determined the application.
The judge therefore indicated that he could not proceed with the Adu-Boahene trial while the injunction application remained pending before the Supreme Court.
The case has consequently been adjourned to August 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Source: newsthemegh.com