MP accuses judge of bias

In another front-page story, the Free Press writes that the MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam constituency in the Central Region, Mr Isaac Edumadze, has accused the Cape Coast High Court judge, Mrs Justice I.M. Heward-Mills, of open bias against him to the extent of being denied his right to give evidence and to call witnesses.

The Free Press says in an affidavit to support his appeal on a judgement against him declaring his election as MP null and void. Mr Edumadze is reported as saying the judge refused to hear his version of the issue but hastily closed the case of the defence when his solicitor was genuinely ill and had filed a medical report with the court's registry.

According to the paper, in a notice of appeal dated November 26, 1999, the MP pointed out that the trial judge erred in law when she failed to order a hearing notice to be served on the respondent/counsel when the case was adjourned on November 10 and 11, 1999, in the absence of both respondent and counsel The notice also requested that the judgement be set aside and an order made for retrial before another judge. Copies of the motion are said to have been sent to the Registrar, Cape Coast High Court and Dr Joseph Enos, the petitioner.

The Free Press says Dr Enos, the NDC candidate in the 1996 parliamentary election, filed a petition challenging the results declared by the Electoral Commission making Mr Edumadze the winner. However, on November, this year, Mrs Heward-Mills entered a judgement against Mr Edumadze and declaring Dr Enos as having won the election and should, therefore, take his place as MP for the constituency.