An Accra High Court has dismissed a preliminary objection raised by lawyers of the 14 judges named in the judicial scandal over an application by the state, for their case against the investigative committee set up by the Chief Justice to be struck out.
The 14 are part of 22 circuit court judges and magistrates suspended by the Chief Justice after they were caught on camera allegedly taking bribes in an investigative piece by Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
A five-member committee was set up to probe the allegations but the 14 argued that the Chief Justice acted unlawfully and prayed the court to halt the process of investigations.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0LcQlqBueumdrFStQoUDjaBI6m1HfoNk”]The committee on two occasions has been forced to suspend sitting due to the pending suit.
According to the Appeals Court judge hearing the application, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, the procedure used by the AG was permitted by law and therefore could not strike out the case.
The Attorney General on Monday filed an application asking the court to completely strike out the case brought by the fourteen lawyers describing it as frivolous and unsubstantiated.
The judge has set September 29, 2015 to deliver a ruling on the case.
Citi News’ Fred Djabanor who was in court reported that the lawyer for the 14 magistrates, John Ndebugri, raised “preliminary objections over the procedure used by the AG in bringing her case before the court.”
Johnn Ndebugri according to Fred Djabanor, said the AG was supposed to file a notice to dismiss the case rather than filing an affidavit in support of the motion she filed.
“The AG represented by the Solicitor General disagreed with the concerns and in her ruling, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo upheld the AG’s decision saying what she did was right,” he added.
–
By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana