The High Court in Accra has dismissed a request for adjournment by counsel for Third Accused, Mildred Donkor, in the ongoing alleged GHC 49 million theft case linked to the former Boss of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu Boahen.
The counsel, who took over after Mildred Donkor openly told the court that she did not need the services of legal mogul, Samuel Atta Akyia, was praying to the court to adjourn proceedings to make time to study the documents presented to him by his clients. However, Presiding Judge Justice John Nyante Nyadu ruled that the third accused had been given ample time to secure legal representation and was expected to fully brief her new counsel ahead of proceedings. The court subsequently ordered that the motion scheduled for the day be moved.
“I ordinarily would have granted the request if the accused were illiterate,” the judge stated. “But for someone as literate as she is, who was aware that this case had been adjourned to secure legal representation, it is reasonably expected that she would apprise her lawyer of all pending processes,” Justice Nyante Nyadu said.
Mr. Nutifafa Nutsukpui, appearing in court for the first time on behalf of Mildred Donkor, had requested a brief adjournment to familiarise himself with the case files.
According to him, his client had only officially engaged his services the previous evening and had brought documents late in the day, some of which were incomplete.
“The accused left our offices around 6 pm yesterday and brought us documents that she had, but they did not include the application,” Nutsukpui told the court. “We didn’t have the time to apply for certified copies to apprise ourselves,” he narrated. As the events played out, the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the request, arguing that the engagement of counsel is a deliberate and thorough process and should not be used as a reason to delay proceedings.He maintained that the motion being moved did not directly concern Donkor but was related to a disclosure request filed by counsel for other accused persons.
“Disclosure is an ongoing process,” the Deputy AG argued. “When counsel properly enters the matter, he has every right to seek the disclosures relevant to his client.”
The case involves former National Signals Bureau Director Kwabena Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei-Boateng, Mildred Donkor, and a fourth accused person. They are standing trial for allegedly stealing GH¢49 million in state funds and using the proceeds to acquire properties.
The case has been adjourned to July 31, 2025, for further hearings
