The High Court in Accra has instructed banker Ernest Kwasi Nimako to submit his written arguments for his application to dismiss the sexual harassment case filed by former National Service Personnel Deborah Sayram Adablah within seven days.

In May 2023, Mr. Nimako filed a motion seeking to have the court dismiss the case brought by Ms. Adablah, which alleges sexual harassment among other claims.

Ms. Adablah had taken Mr. Nimako, who was then the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of First Atlantic Bank, to court in January of the same year.

However, on July 21, 2023, the bank was cleared of any wrongdoing and removed from the lawsuit by the court, following a counter application by the bank's lawyers. This left Mr. Nimako as the sole defendant in the case.

The court awarded costs of GHc6,000 against Ms. Adablah, who is the plaintiff, and a vehicle that was part of the dispute was surrendered as per the court's order.

During the court session on Monday, October 16, 2023, lawyers representing Kwasi Nimako requested that the application seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed be given priority.

Counsel for Deborah Sayram Adablah, who is the respondent in this application and the plaintiff in the main case, agreed with the submission by the banker's legal team.

Justice John Bosco Nabarese, who now presides over the case following the transfer of the previous judge, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, set timelines for the parties.

The court ordered Mr. Nimako to submit his written arguments by October 23, while Ms. Adablah's legal team was given seven days to respond upon being served with the submissions.

Justice Nabarese emphasized that there would be no allowances for delays in adhering to the set timeframes.

The case has been adjourned to October 31 for the court to schedule a date for ruling. Both Ernest Nimako and Deborah Sayram Adablah were present.

Two other pending applications in the case include a Contempt application filed on June 6 and another filed by the plaintiff challenging the court's orders to have the disputed vehicle surrendered, which was filed on June 16.

The plaintiff contends that despite the assurances from Mr. Nimako that he would leave the bank and not accept a contract, he made representations and assurances to her that he would provide her with the following:

“Lump sum working capital to start a business, pay for her accommodation/Rent for 3 years, buy her a car, Pay her GHc3,000.00 a month, buy plaintiff a ring and pay her medical and other bills including paying for her to undergo a family planning treatment so that she will not give birth in the short term.”

Additionally, she claimed that Mr. Nimako vowed to marry her after divorcing his wife, citing the irreconcilable differences in his relationship with his wife and the breakdown of their marriage as the reasons. This commitment was made during their intimate relationship that began in the living room.

The Plaintiff per her claims is seeking the following reliefs;

a) An order that the 1s defendant transfers the title of car No. GC -7899-21 into the name of the plaintiff and or an order directed at DVLA to Register Car No.GC-7899-21 into the name of the Plaintiff as the owner.

b) A refund of the cost of repairs of Ghc10,000.00 which 1s Defendant promised to refund to the plaintiff but failed.

c) An order that the Defendants pay to the Plaintiff the following:(i) 1st Defendant pays lump sum money to the plaintiff to enable the plaintiff to start a business to take care of herself as agreed by the plaintiff and the 1st Defendant.

(ii) 1st Defendant pays the remaining two (2) years rent for Plaintiff’s accommodation or to pay the same amount for the remaining two (2) years at the same rate at an alternative accommodation.

(iii) 1st Defendant to pay the outstanding arrears of Plaintiff’s monthly allowance from July 2022 to the date of Judgment and pay all medical expenses as a result of the side effects of the Family Planning treatment.

(iv) General damages against the Defendants.(d) Any other reliefs) the Court deems necessary including legal costs.