An Appeal Court has stayed the suspension of Lawyer Hansen Kodwo Koduah, earlier reported for duping his client to the tune of GHC 50000.
Lawyer Hansen Koduah was suspended by Ghana Legal Council after he allegedly inflated the required filing fee.
The Council, in a statement released in June this year, noted that lawyer Koduah was “was formally charged under Rule 9(8) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 L.I. 613 that he, while acting as counsel for Mrs. Grace Nana Ama Oparah represented to her that she was required to pay a filing fee in the sum of GH₵50,000.00 in the case titled as Mrs. Grace Nana Ama Oparah v National Investment Bank & 2ORS (SUIT No. LMISC 1 /2014) at the High Court , Kumasi and succeeded in collecting from her the said amount when he knew or ought to have known that the statutory fee was GH₵748.00 to be paid to HFC Bank Ltd at the High Court Registry at Kumasi, but nevertheless failed to pay same to the said bank as practice requires.”
The Disciplinary Committee of the Council at its meeting held on June 9, 2016 suspended him for 3 years.
The suspension also meant he will hold himself as a legal practitioner “or attend chambers, or render professional legal service” to any individual.
But following an appeal in the Court of Appeal, the court has ordered for him (lawyer Koduah) to continue to practice as a legal practitioner until the determination of the final appeal.
The court presided over by his Lordship F.G Korbieh ruled in favour of the lawyer and has stayed the suspension orders of the General Legal Council.
The court has also restored his practicing his ‘practicing license’ which was withdrawn by the Council.
Counsel for Lawyer Koduah, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw advised practitioners in the legal fraternity not to “jubilate when a colleague finds himself in trouble since it can happen to anybody. He hoped the Court of Appeal will do justice in his client’s case.”
An allegation against Lawyer Koduah over his connivance with one judicial staff member to over-charge filing fees is yet to be determined by the court. |
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