The Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Woode has dismissed the bribery allegation brought by Private Investigative firm, Tigereye PI against one of the judges implicated in the case.
A release signed by Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong and copied to Adomonline.com said that the private investigative firm could not provide enough evidence for the committee investigating the judicial corruption to establish a prima facie case against Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu.
“The evidence provided by tigereyepi in support of the allegations against the said Judge is not sufficient to meet the Prima Facie test either in relation to the allegation of bribery or ex-parte communication between the Judge and the Petitioner on a judicial matter pending before him, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates of Ghana (CCJMG).
Justice Asiedu and several other circuit and high court judges including magistrates were cited in the infamous Anas Aremeyaw Anas judicial corrutption scandal which has since shaken the foundation of justice delivery system in the country.
The release continued that since the Judge has been elevated to the position of a High Court Judge, ‘the petition against him was subsequently forwarded to his His Excellency the President in accordance with article 146 of the 1992 Constitution since articles 148 and 151 were no longer applicable to him following his elevation’.
Below is the full statement:
The Hon. Lady Chief Justice has dismissed the bribery allegations petition by tiger Eye PI against Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu.
This is because the evidence provided by tigereyepi in support of the allegations against the said Judge is not sufficient to meet the Prima Facie test either in relations to the allegation of bribery or ex-parte communication between the Judge and the Petitioner on a judicial matter pending before him, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judge and Magistrates of Ghana (CCJMG).
Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu was elevated to the High Court in Aprial 1, this year. This was at a time when the appointing authorities were not privy to the alleged acts of misconduct or wrongdoings brought against him and 21 Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates who have been referred to the Chief Justice to be dealt with in accordance with Article 151 of the 1992 Constitution by tigereyepi for alleged stated misbehavior.
In view of his position as a High Court Judge, the petition against him was subsequently forwarded to His Excellency the President in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution since article 148 and 151 were no longer applicable to him following his elevation.
His Excellency the President, in a letter dated 23rd September, 2015, requested the Chief Justice to handle the petition under article 146 and determine whether or not there was a Prima Facie case against His Lordship Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu as per article 146()3.
The Chief Justice upon her determination concluded that the evidence provided by tigereyepi in support of the allegations against Justice Asmah Akwasi Asiedu is inadequate and so fails to meet the constitutional Prima Facie threshold.
Background
22 Magistrates and 12 High Court judges were caught on camera accepting bribes to influence certain cases.
Seven out of the 12 high court judges who were implicated in the judicial corruption scandal were recently suspended by Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
Over eighty employees of the judicial service, police, AG’s department and the prisons who have also been identified in the video, are to be investigated by two separate committees.
Source: Adomonline
