<<Print>>

Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has stated that the Judicial Council would “swiftly and decisively” apply the appropriate sanctions to any judge who was found culpable in the corruption scandal that has rocked Ghana’s judicial system.

She said, however, that, the Council would not circumvent the constitutional provisions in its investigations of the alleged misconduct of some 34 judges.

Speaking at the annual Ghana Bar Association conference Monday, Mrs Wood said, “…we will ensure that the rule of law with all the constitutional guarantees accorded to all persons accused of stated misconduct are fully respected. We cannot do otherwise.”

“Where culpability is established, the Judicial Council is determined to swiftly and decisively apply the appropriate sanctions in accordance with the laws of this land,” she said.

Mrs Wood noted that irrespective of the recent happenings, the Judicial Service’s loyalty to the rule of law remained intact, adding that, “as a justice institution birthed in the principles of fair trail and the natural justice principles, the events of the past few days have not robbed us of our institutional origins or identity or integrity.” She further assured the public that the matter would be treated with the urgency and seriousness that it deserved.

Meanwhile some of the lower court judges who have been indicted in the alleged corruption have begun legal processes at the High Court to challenge the procedure adopted by the Judicial Council on the basis of procedural error. They are further praying the Court to stop Anas from broadcasting the recent documentary scheduled to premiere on September 22 and 23 in Accra.

On Monday, Justice Paul Uuter Dery, one of the High Court judges cited in the judicial bribery video, has filed a writ at the High Court demanding certain reliefs. In a writ filed at the Fast Track division of the High Court, Justice Dery is seeking a total of 17 reliefs, including, “A declaration that the 1st Defendant (Tiger Eye PI) obtained the contents of the audio-visual recording unlawfully.”

Justice Dery is, however, the only High Court judge to so far resort to legal action.