Seven out of the 12 high court judges who were implicated in the judicial corruption scandal have been suspended by Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
The suspension, ordered by Amissah-Arthur who was “acting in his capacity as President” in the absence of President Mahama, took effect from last Friday, October 2
The Chief Justice had earlier suspended the magistrates who were also allegedly caught on camera, by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw and his Tigereye PI team, receiving bribes to influence certain cases.
However, according to the constitution, she does not have the authority to suspend the high court judges, a power reserved for the President of the State.
The President asked the Chief Justice to establish a prima facie case against the implicated judges before any further action could be taken.
Below is the full statement from the Judicial Service:
On the advice of the Judicial Council, the Vice President, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, acting in his capacity as President of the Republic of Ghana on Friday, October 2, 2015 suspended from office with immediate effect, seven (7) out of the 12 Justices of the High Court on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
Their suspension is pursuant to article 146 (10)(b) of the 1992 Constitution.
The affected Justices are:
- His Lordship Justice Francis K. Opuku
- His Lordship Justice John Ajet Nasam
- His Lordship Justice Ernest Obimpeh
- His Lordship Justice Kwame Ohene Essel
- Her Ladyship Justice Ivy-Heward-Mills (Mrs.)
- His Lordship Justice Gilbert Ayisi Addo
- His Lordship Justice Kofi Essel Mensah
Their suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case of stated misbehavior against them by the Hon. Lady Chief Justice pursuant to article 146 (3) of the 1992 Constitution and the setting up of a Committee under article (4) to investigate the petition.
The Committee consists of three Justices of the Superior Courts, that is a Justice of the Supreme Court who is Chairperson, and two Justices of the Court of Appeal appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons appointed on the advice of the Council of State, who are neither members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers.
The Attorney-General has been requested to provide a State Attorney assist the Committee in its work whilst a Deputy Director at the Judicial Service will serve as the Secretary to the Committee.
The Chief Justice has decided to suspend the determination of a prima facie case in respect of Justice Mustapha Logoh and Justice Paul Uuter Dery, who were cited in the petition, as a result of the actions instituted by them against her and tigereypi, which are pending in court.
The preceedings against Justice Charles Quist, have been deferred on grounds of ill-health, following a medical report submitted by his physician on his state of health.
Meanwhile, tigereyepi has written to the Chief Justice informing her that the inclusion of Justice Daniel Obeng, a Justice of the High Court, in the petition for the removal from office was an error. According to tigereypi, further investigations indicate that the Judge they dealt with was rather Emmanuel Opare, a Circuit Court Judge. Our records at the Judicial Service have confirmed that at the time the investigations were conducted by tigereypi, in August 2015, Justice Daniel Obeng, had been elevated to the High Court and transferred to the Northern Region.
Signed
Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong
Judicial Secretary
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana