Anti-Gay suits: Supreme Court refutes delaying cases

The Supreme Court has refuted claims that it is delaying the suits challenging the Human and Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-gay bill.

The Registrar of the court, Justice Ellen Ofer-Ayeh, who is also a Justice of the High Court, said it was rather the parties to the suits who had failed to file the necessary processes to enable the apex court to determine the suits.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday [October 7, 2024], Justice Ofer-Ayeh said all the parties to the suits had failed to file the memorandum of issues, while the two defendants – the Attorney-General (A-G) and Parliament,  had also failed to file their defence within the period stipulated by the rules of court.

Currently, the Registrar said Parliament had filed an application seeking extension of time to file its defence.

“This application will be heard within one week of the Supreme Court sitting, being 15th to 17th October, 2024,” the Registrar added.

Protest march

The press conference is coming at the back of the heels of a planned protest march on Tuesday to protest the delay in the bill becoming a law.

The planned protest march, led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, will present a petition to the A-G and the Chief Justice to complain about what they claim to be an unjustified delay in the adjudication of the suits challenges the bill.