In the ongoing legal battle between Bright Simons and Fidelity Bank, the Accra High Court has ruled in favor of Simons, allowing him to proceed with his counter-suit against the bank.
The court’s decision comes after Fidelity Bank attempted to strike out pleadings related to procurement abuses in Simons’ statement of defense.
The dispute began when Simons made statements on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding alleged “sweetheart” forex transactions between Fidelity Bank and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Fidelity Bank responded with a defamation suit against Simons, but he counter-sued, alleging that the transactions violated the Public Procurement Act and national policies.
Simons also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, citing the involvement of a senior Fidelity Bank executive who serves on the Board of ECG and has political ties.
The court’s decision allows Simons to pursue these allegations, despite Fidelity Bank’s attempts to exclude them from the case.
The presiding Judge cited legal precedents to support Simons’ right to include these issues in his defense and file a public interest lawsuit.
The Judge awarded costs of GHS3,000 against Fidelity Bank, setting the stage for a multifaceted legal battle between the two parties.
Both parties are now preparing to navigate the defamation suit, as well as the complex allegations of legal breaches and conflicts of interest.
The case has sparked interest in the legal community, with many watching to see how the court will rule on the procurement-related allegations.
Bright Simons is represented by AudreyGrey Legal, Tax, and Professional Services Firm, while Fidelity Bank is represented by the chambers of Dominic Ayine, the NDC MP for Bolgatanga East.
The case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the banking industry and the enforcement of public procurement laws in Ghana.
