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General News of Monday, 14 September 2015

Source: starrfmonline.com

Judicial scandal: 22 judges to be prosecuted

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The Attorney General is pressing charges against the 22 judges and magistrates who were indicted in the corruption scandal which has hit the judiciary of Ghana.

The judges are part of a list of 34 members of the bench who were caught on camera allegedly taking bribes to throw away cases. Twelve other high court judges are being probed by a five-member body set up by the Judicial Council.

Starr News can confirm the Attorney General’s department is almost through with the processes that will lead to the prosecution of the suspended magistrates.

According to sources, the judges are likely to be dragged to court Tuesday since a prima facie case has been made against them after watching the damning videos by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in a painstaking two-year undercover exercise.

Meanwhile, 10 out of the 12 High Court judges being investigated in the latest corruption scandal which has hit Ghana’s judiciary have up to today to respond to an impeachment petition against them.

According to a statement signed by the Judicial Secretary Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, upon the judges‘ response, the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood “in accordance with Article 146 (3) would determine whether there is a prima facie case against them.“

The judges in question are:

Justice Frank Opoku

Justice Charles Quist

Justice Kofi Essel Mensah

Justice Mustapha Logoh

Justice Uuter P. Dery

Justice John Ajet-Nasam

Justice Kwame Ohene Essel

Justice Ernest Obimpeh

Justice Ivy Heward-Mills

Justice Gilbet Ayisi-Addo

The statement further added two other judges Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha and Yaw Ansu-Gyeabuor have since retired hence “the attention of the president has been drawn to this fact. In view of their status as retired Justices, the two are not subject to the impeachment proceedings provided under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.“