REPUBLIC vs. COURT OF APPEAL; EX PARTE APONSAH

The applicant, a legal practitioner of about 22 years’ standing, was the appellant in a civil appeal pending before the Court of Appeal. He appeared in that appeal fully robed and sought, while also being a party, to participate in the argument although counsel had appeared for him. He complained that the Court of Appeal ordered him to remove his wig and gown, denied him audience, refused him leave to reply, and generally conducted the proceedings unfairly. He therefore invoked the Supreme Court’s supervisory jurisdiction seeking certiorari and/or prohibition to quash the proceedings of 17 and 18 June 1991 and restrain the panel from delivering judgment. Portion of judgment pointing to this: “The applicant is a legal practitioner of some 22 years standing at the bar… The applicant had come to the Court of Appeal to argue a civil appeal which involved him personally as the appellant… The applicant has brought his motion praying the court for: ‘Orders of certiorari or prohibition or both on the grounds of gross irregularities amounting to denial or breach of natural justice…’”