Lawyer and former Member of Parliament, for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has stepped aside as counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the GH¢30 million Ghana Export and Import Bank(EXIM) case.
The Lawyer has been replaced by private legal practitioner Samuel Atta Akyea, who is now leading Wontumi’s defense in the matter.
The change in legal representation marks a fresh turn in the high-profile case, which has drawn strong public interest within political and legal circles.
Appiah-Kubi had earlier been counsel for Wontumi in the Samreboi Illegal mining case before he filed to withdraw from the case. The case that saw Wontumi’s conviction and sentencing was then transferred to Mr. Atta Akyea.
Meanwhile Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s claim for exiting the trial was because of his disappointment with the attitude of the court citing some disagreements. But the reason for this particular switch has not yet been fully explained publicly.
The development comes at a time when the matter continues to attract attention over its legal and political implications.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial over allegations involving financial dealings with the state-owned Ghana EXIM Bank.
He has pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts of charges levelled against him.