Former Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, who has been pursuing a defamation suit against Net2 TV’s Justice Kweku Annan for months has directed his lawyers to discontinue a case against the journalist.
The notice to discontinue the case, which Prime News has sighted, did not give reasons for the dramatic decision.
However, the notice of discontinuance follows a surprise warning from the judge hearing the case to Mr Asante-Apeatu’s lawyers.
Justice Ekow Baiden, the judge presiding over the defamation case, grabbed headlines last week when he told the lawyers for Mr Asante-Apeatu in open court that they should slow down with their application for judgment in default of defence because “they do not know the people they are dealing with.”
Former IGP Asante-Apeatu in July sued Kennedy Agyepong’s protégé Justice Kweku Annan for defamation (Suit No. GJ/1106/2021; David Asante- Apeatu (suing per his lawful attorney Nkum Asmah) v. justice Kweku Annan).
Justice Annan in a TV broadcast on Net2 television accused the former IGP of being a fence for criminals in Nigeria and Ghana. The embattled presenter also accused the IGP of working in cahoots with criminals and on the payroll of top criminals in Ghana.
However, Mr Annan has evaded service continuously until lawyers for the IGP procured alternative service through newspapers and by pasting copies on the premises of Net2 television.
Mr Annan has refused and neglected to file an appearance in court until lawyers for Mr Asante-Apeatus applied for judgment in default of appearance and defence which was scheduled for hearing in November. But after filing an appearance through the brother of Kenney Agyapong in October, Mr Annan has failed to file any defence to date.
On Tuesday 7 December 2021, lawyers for Mr Asante-Apeatu, led by Sammy Darko, attempted to move an application on notice for judgment in default of defence. Although the lawyers had complied with all the rules and a copy of proof of service on lawyers of Mr Annan were on the docket, Justice Baiden asked them to slow down.
He admonished them to be careful with the action and in his own words: “counsel did not know who they are dealing with.”