Tsatsu regrets yelling at Philip Addison to "shut up" - NDC Lawyer

A member of the NDC legal team, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, has said though Tsatsu Tsikata, counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the ongoing 2012 election petition sees no fault for his ‘shut up’ comment, he has expressed remorse for using such word as a reputable lawyer.

According to him, Mr. Tsikata is likely to publicly speak on the issue, but as his colleague, his demeanor shows much regret for the unfortunate “shut up” phrase.

“Mr. Tsikata can speak on the issue of his comment. He (Tsikata) is not an arrogant person who does not listen; he really does and abides by the law. He is human and can be wrong sometimes, and he accepts that when he is at fault. Nobody will doubt his or her mistakes so do Mr. Tsikata.

“…It’s not until you accept your mistake and say sorry, but it is how you will mean it and that will determine whether you regret or not. He has taken a clue from that, and the court has spoken, so he is working with a free mind now,” he told Asempa FM.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, on Monday, May 6, 2013 asked the Lead Counsel for the Petitioners in the election petition court case, Mr. Philip Addison to “shut up” when he interrupted his cross examination of key witness Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“Can you shut up?” Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata bellowed at Mr. Addison in an open court.

Mr. Addison demanded that Mr. Tsikata withdraw the use of the phrase “shut up”, but to no avail.

However, Victor Kojogah Adawudu believes what prompted Mr. Tsikata to use such phrase was due to the unforeseen interjections by Lawyer Addison and lauded the Judges for addressing that to make smooth cross examination proceedings by both parties.

He debunked claims that Mr. Tsikata is arrogant and a bully, as being speculated by the petitioners (NPP).

“Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata is a straight forward person and people think he is arrogant and bullied. Questions others are afraid to ask, he will do that without any fears, such person is not arrogant. He knows his job and does it with braveness. I have worked with Tsatsu for so many years, and he is not a bullied person,” he said.