{
  "id": 6278295,
  "title": "Court rejects Mustapha Abdul-Hamid’s adjournment plea, orders trial to resume on Wednesday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/court-rejects-mustapha-abdul-hamids-adjournment-plea-orders-trial-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T12:26:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/court-rejects-mustapha-abdul-hamids-adjournment-plea-orders-trial-to-resume-on-wednesday/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Accra High Court has denied lead counsel Joseph Kpemka's request for a prolonged adjournment of the trial of Mustapha Abdul-Hamid. Kpemka had cited reasons such as his ill health, exhaustion, and the upcoming bar conference as grounds for the adjournment. However, the court directed that the parties return for the continuation of the case management conference the following day. Abdul-Hamid and six others are currently facing charges of extorting money from individuals in the petroleum sector. Despite an earlier attempt to strike out the charges being dismissed, the pre-trial proceedings are set to proceed. Kpemka explained that he had sought the adjournment due to various factors, including his health and the impending legal events. However, the court maintained that the decision to adjourn rests with the trial court and not the Chief Justice. The defence team had made their request for a few more days to recuperate from the challenging legal year they had endured.",
  "summary": "The Accra High Court has rejected an open-court plea by lead counsel for former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, seeking a long adjournment of the trial. Joseph Kpemka, lead counsel for Abdul-Hamid, had prayed the court for an adjournment on grounds of ill health, exhaustion, and the upcoming bar […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "21-year ‘Sword of Damocles’ ends: Orissa High Court steps in over worker’s regularisation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/21-year-sword-of-damocles-ends-orissa-high-court-steps-in-over",
        "published": "2026-09-08T08:30:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "What is the role of State government in appointment of High Court Chief Justice? | Explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-is-the-role-of-state-government-in-appointment-of-high-court",
        "published": "2026-09-08T09:48:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "High Court rules alleged hitman’s bail affidavit can be used in Cat Matlala trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-rules-alleged-hitmans-bail-affidavit-can-be-used-in-cat",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:14:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "High Court rules Kekana’s affidavits are admissible in Matlala trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-rules-kekanas-affidavits-are-admissible-in-matlala-trial",
        "published": "2026-09-08T11:10:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "High Court cancels Second Authority appointments over Netanyahu conflict of interest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/high-court-cancels-second-authority-appointments-over-netanyahu",
        "published": "2026-09-08T12:32:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}