Rawlings No Show At Chicago Court

State of Illinois vs Victoria Boateng

October 16 2006 will forever be remembered by Ghanaians home and abroad that the "419" subpoena issued on former president of the Republic of Ghana, Flt. Lt JJ Rawlings, by an attorney defending Victoria Boateng for assault charges against her did not carry any merit!

The Chicago based Nigerian Attorney defending Victoria Boateng could not immediately explain to Judge William O'Malley why the former president of Ghana should appear before his court with documents that did not relate to the assault charge.

Attorney Ubio was fumbling for words to explain why he allegedly sent a subpoena to the former president without the court's notice and could not readily explain to the court the rational for such unilateral action.

The accused Victoria Boateng, who styles herself as Victoria Acheampong in the Ghanaian community in Chicago, was sporting a black skirt with a red top coat and large dark glasses accompanied by her sister and two others did not say a word in court.

Judge William O'Malley called the case of State of Illinois versus Victoria Boateng precisely at 9.10am and the parties stepped forward to the front of the Bench. The assigned State Attorney to prosecute the case, Bill Conway, was held up in another courtroom and so a stand in put in an appearance. Reuben Hadzidze the victim, requested the Court to stand the case down till 10.30 A.M to enable his own lawyer be present. However, the Lawyer for Victoria notified the court that he had another case in Skokie, Illinois and prayed the Court to proceed.

The judge explained why Victoria was facing the State of Illinois in court and before he could take her plea, Lawyer Ubio of Nigeria descent from the law Office of Ubio O'Neal and Associates announced his representation for the accused Victoria. Ubio told the court he had subpoenaed the former President of Ghana. The Judge then said the Court had no jurisdiction over any person or persons who do not reside on the soil of the United States and asked Ubio for any case law precedent to support his position. Ubio then started fumbling for words and finally admitted he did not have any case law to cite. Ubio then asked for an adjournment to December 7, 2006 to enable him look for cases to support his position. The complainant, Reuben Hadzide then prayed on the court for an expeditious completion of the case. The Judge therefore granted Ubio till October 30th 2006. It was at this juncture that the properly assigned Prosecuting State Attorney Bill Conway appeared in court to take over the case. The State Attorney immediately moved the Court to quash the alleged subpoena from Ubio. The judge informed Mr. Conway that he had put the case to October 30, 2006.The State Attorney, Bill Conway then gave notice that he would move the Court at the next sitting to quash Ubio's outrageous Subpoena in order not to allow Ubio to abuse the process of the Court.

From today's proceedings, it has now been established that former president Rawlings has not been legally or properly subpoenaed to appear before Judge O'Malley today, Oct 16, 2006 as wildly reported by Daily Guide and some other Ghanaian newspapers. Legal experts for Ghanaweb said the Court frowns on fishing expeditions by Attorneys and that Ubio faces a tall order in getting the court to go along with his preposterous subpoena. The no-nonsense Judge O¢Malley gave indication that he would not like this case to be protracted.