CJ�s Deadline To Judges Expire Today

The deadline given to the 12 high court judges to respond to their alleged involvement in the bribery and extortion scandal that has hit the judiciary expires today. A statement issued by the Judicial Council said the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, is awaiting the response of the judges in order to determine whether there is a prima facie case against them in accordance with Article 146 (3). The Chief Justice denied reports that three judges being investigated in the bribery scandal have been discharged. �There was a case of mistaken identity in respect of H/W Frank Addo Ashitey, a magistrate at Prestea. �The actual person involved is H/W Frank Kingsley Oppong, a magistrate at Kasoa,� the Chief Justice stated in a release signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong. �This error was corrected by Tigereyepi in a subsequent letter before the Disciplinary Committee started its proceedings on September 10, 2015,� the statement added. Meanwhile, the Judicial Council has released the names of judges involved in the damning video. Two of the judges - Justice Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha and Justice Yaw Ansu-Gyeabuor - have retired. The high court judges accused 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 and Justice Gilbert Ayisi-Addo. The statement added that, �Also among the 22 Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates who were referred to the Chief Justice to be dealt with in accordance with Article 151 of the 1992 Constitution, two (2) have since April 1, 2015 been elevated to the High Court. As such, they cannot be brought under the provisions governing the Lower Court Judges.� According to the statement, the petition against the two - Justice Daniel Obeng and Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu - have been re-submitted to the President for his directives. The circuit court judges and magistrates are-Florence K. Ninepence Otoo, Alex Obeng Asante, Emmanuel K. Sunu, Benjamin Y. Osei, Baptist Kodwo Filson, Isaac Akwantey, Albert Zoogah, Courage Ofori Afriyie, Seyram T.Y. Azumah and William Baffoe. The rest are Michael Boamah Gyamfi, Paul K. Alhassan, Stephen Asuure, Kaakyire Atta Owusu, Alfred K.A. Mensah, Frank Kingsley Oppong, Samuel Ahiabor, Isaac K. Amoah and Jacob Amponsah.