High Court Awards GH¢6,000 in Costs Against Plaintiff in First Atlantic Bank CFO Lawsuit
The High Court in Accra has ruled in favor of First Atlantic Bank in a case brought against their former Chief Finance Officer, Ernest Kwasi Nimako, by Deborah Seyram Adablah. The court awarded costs of GH¢6,000 against Adablah after striking out First Atlantic Bank’s name from the case on July 21, following a motion filed by the bank’s legal team.
During the court proceedings, lawyers representing First Atlantic Bank sought a cost award of GH¢50,000, but Adablah’s attorney pleaded for a reduction to GH¢5,000. Ultimately, the court granted a cost of GH¢6,000 against Adablah.
Despite this ruling on costs, the substantive case is still pending, as numerous interim applications have created hurdles in its progress. Adablah’s lawyer has filed an interim application seeking to set aside the court’s order, which requires her to surrender the car involved in the dispute to the court’s registry.
On the other hand, Ernest Kwasi Nimako has filed an interim application seeking to hold Adablah in contempt of court.
Background of the Case
The lawsuit filed by Deborah Seyram Adablah on January 23, 2023, alleges that Ernest Kwasi Nimako, whom she refers to as her “sugar daddy,” made several promises to her. According to the plaintiff, Nimako agreed to buy her a car, cover her accommodation expenses for three years, provide a monthly stipend of GH¢3,000, marry her after divorcing his wife, and offer a lump sum to start a business.
However, Adablah claims that Nimako took back the car, which was initially registered in his name, depriving her of its use after just one year. Additionally, she alleges that he only paid for one year of accommodation, despite promising to cover three years.
In light of these grievances, the plaintiff seeks an order from the court directing Nimako to transfer the car’s title into her name and return the car to her possession. She also seeks an order for Nimako to fulfill his promise of providing the lump sum to help her start a business for her financial support.
Furthermore, Adablah is asking the court to order Nimako to pay the outstanding two years’ worth of accommodation, as originally agreed between them.
Lastly, the plaintiff is requesting that Nimako cover her medical expenses incurred as a result of a “side effect of a family planning treatment” that Nimako had advised her to undertake to prevent pregnancy.
As the case unfolds, it continues to garner attention and raises important questions about the enforceability of promises made in personal relationships and the legal responsibilities that may arise from such commitments. The High Court’s ruling on costs serves as a preliminary development in this complex legal battle, with further deliberations expected to address the substantive issues in due course.