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General News of Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Source: Joy Online

Mosquito defends Tsatsu’s "shut up" comment

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has defended the action of the party’s counsel, Tsatsu Tsikata who lost his temper in court, Monday.

Mr. Tsikata during cross-examination of the petitioner’s key witness Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on day 11 of the presidential election petition hearing at the Supreme Court flared up when Philip Addison, counsel for the petitioners raised an objection to a question he [Tsatsu] posed to the witness.

Tsatsu Tsikata ordered Philip Addison to "shut up" to enable him do an uninterrupted cross-examination.

Lawyer Addison took offense and requested Mr. Tsikata to retract his words.

However, the Judges glossed over and asked the two lawyers to approach the bench later on the matter.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, otherwise known as "General Mosquito" blamed Philip Addison for the incident in court.

He explained that lawyer Addison throughout proceedings "heckled" Tsatsu Tsikata just to truncate his cross-examination aimed at exposing the discrepancies in their [petitioner's] exhibits.

The NDC scribe said Tsatsu’s conduct was a form of self defense to deter him [Addison] from further interruptions.

General Mosquito added that Philip Addison throughout the cross-examination was very uncomfortable hence raised "needless" objections to protect the witness.

He decried the "arrogant" posturing of lawyer Addison who he claims was once a student of Tsatsu Tsikata.

Asiedu Nketia urged Addison to grant Mr. Tsikata the needed respect as his senior at the bar despite their opposing roles in court.