Vacant seat saga:Speaker's lawyers move to set aside Supreme Court order

Lawyers acting on behalf of Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, have applied to the Supreme Court, seeking a reversal of its prior decision that halted the Speaker's announcement of four parliamentary seats as vacant.

The legal team argues that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to rule on the case initiated by Effutu Member of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

On Friday, October 18, the Supreme Court instructed Parliament to permit four MPs to maintain their roles as lawmakers until a resolution is reached in their case. This directive followed the Speaker's announcement the previous day, October 17, declaring their seats vacant.

Both the NDC and NPP groups in Parliament currently claim to hold the majority.

In its motion, the team of lawyers led by Thaddeus Sory argue among others that the writ by which Alexander Afenyo Markin invoked the court's jurisdiction is incomplete.

Also, they indicate that the apex court has no jurisdiction to entertain or stay the speaker's ruling.

Further, they argue that the processes, proceedings and the orders made by the court were made in breach of the rules of natural justice.

Also they add that the Supreme Court's orders of October 18 were made in breach of the rules of law and procedure which regulate its proceedings and orders and that same was against the rules prescribing the manner for exercising discretion.

Finally, the Speaker states that the orders of the Supreme Court were made on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation by Alexnader Afenyo Markin, who is the plaintiff.