Justice Paul Dery, one of the implicated judges in the judicial corruption expos\u00e9 has petitioned the Chief Justice to bar Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, from sitting on his cases.<\/p>\n
Following the corruption expos\u00e9 by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Justice Paul Dery dragged Anas Aremeyaw Anas and four others to the high court presided over \u00a0Justice Gertrude Torkonoo for contempt. \u00a0Justice Torkonoo dismissed the application for contempt when the embattled Paul Dery and his lawyers were not even aware of the date for the hearing of the case. She then vacated her decision after Justice Dery had petitioned the supreme court.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”0PFhkdoAyu1WebuEYmWj8OJ8817EVU3W”]But Justice Dery who had insisted that the presiding judge has been biased towards him wants her removed and replaced with another judge.<\/p>\n
This he said will be in the best interest of justice.<\/p>\n
Justice Dery argues that he will not get an impartial trial before Justice Gertrude Torkonoo because to him \u201cshe has exhibited a real likelihood of bias in the handling of my cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
He further lamented that Justice Torkonoo made a ruling in a case in which he sought to stop Tigereye PI from screening the audio visual recordings of its investigation on a day neither he nor his lawyer were aware of hence were not in court.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo J.A sat on the motion, acknowleged that it was moot, stated that she would not strike it out and dismissed it. Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo J.A then awarded heavy cost of GHc5,000 against me and ordered that the cost should be paid before I bring any other motion,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In the petition dated January 21, 2016 Justice Dery further noted that Justice Torkunoo had deposed several paragraphs in his affidavit.<\/p>\n
He said \u201c\u2026your Ladyship, Justice Torkonoo J.A in her affidavit in opposition to an application for contempt I filed at the Supreme Court exhibited bias against me. She deposed in several paragraphs of her affidavit that I take steps to restore the dignity of the court and administration of justice from the barrage of untruths and unwarranted applications.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Ladyship, the assessment of the credibility of a witness is part of the judicial process. Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo J.A has already assessed me as an untruthful person. It stands to reason with respect, your Ladyship, that her impartiality in handling any of my suits is very much in doubt.”<\/p>\n
He therefore prayed the Chief Justice that “in the overall interest of justice you use your powers to remove Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkonoo J.A from my cases and replace her with a different judge.\u201d<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: Godwin A. Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n