An Accra High Court has struck out an application filed by Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, seeking leave to withdraw his legal services in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The court held that the application was incompetent and alien to criminal procedure.
It further ruled that there was no legal requirement compelling counsel to seek the court’s permission before withdrawing legal services, describing the matter as one between a lawyer and a client.
The court, however, extended the deadline for filing written addresses from June 17 to June 24, 2026.
The date for judgment, expected on July 3, 2026, remains unchanged.
At Monday’s sitting, Mr Appiah-Kubi moved the application, seeking to withdraw his legal services to Mr Boasiako, also known as Wontumi, and his firm, Akonta Mining Company Limited.
He argued that since the court had recognised him as counsel for the accused persons, it also had the right to be informed of his withdrawal.
Mr Appiah-Kubi maintained that the court had jurisdiction to hear the application because the issues raised related to matters pending before it.
Opposing the application, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General, argued that the process filed by Mr Appiah-Kubi was unknown to criminal procedure and that there was no legal requirement for defence counsel to notify the court of such a decision.
He contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to determine the application and prayed that it strike it out as incompetent.
On June 5, 2026, Mr Appiah-Kubi filed the application seeking leave to withdraw his legal services to Mr Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The Attorney-General subsequently filed a preliminary legal objection to the application.
