Judicial Bribery Scandal: 2 Judges Fired

Two justices of the High Court, Justice Kofi Essel Mensah and Justice Francis K Opoku  have been removed from office for stated misbehavior.

The two were deemed to have traded justice for money in the infamous Judicial bribery scandal that hit the country late last year.

The Chief Justice Committee constituted to investigate the allegations of bribery found the two justices culpable and recommended their dismissal.

President John Mahama in a letter dated April 12, 2016 accepted the recommendation from the committee by asking the two justices to go home.

A statement signed by the Judicial Secretary Alex Poku-Acheampong said the dismissal takes effect from April 19, 2016.

Background

The two justices on separate occasions collected monies from agents of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tigereye PI Company.

They were part of some 34 justices said to have taken bribes in what became the biggest bribery scandal to hit the country.

There were 22 inferior court judges all of whom have been dismissed with 12 High Court justices involved.

There were some court clerks, officials of the Attorney Generals Department who were also named in the scandal.

The scandal was triggered by an undercover investigation by ace journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Justice Francis K Opoku was said to have engaged in an ex-parte discussion with agents of Anas Aremeyaw Anas Tiger Eye company in respect of the Webajuwa Basilyem Vrs Kapunga Kunimpwah case.

His conduct was in violation of Rule 3(7) of the Code of Ethics for Judges and Magistrates of Ghana.

The statement said the Chief Justice has decided to suspend the determination of the prima facie case against Justice Mustapha Logoh and Peter Dery.

The proceedings against Justice Charles Quist has also been suspended on health grounds.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas has meanwhile written to the Chief Justice saying the addition of Justice Daniel Obeng in the petition was in error.