Effah-Dartey to challenge Anas’s immunity

The lawyer for Mr Justice Gilbert Ayisi Addo, one of the seven suspended High Court judges, has vowed to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the presidential immunity granted Anas Aremeyaw Anas if his client is cleared of the bribery charges against him.

Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey (retd) said although the President had granted the ace investigative reporter some level of immunity, he would challenge the immunity since it was “unconstitutional.”

“When Mr Justice Ayisi is cleared, we will sit down and reflect as to whether, in the interest of justice, we should not institute an action against Anas and have him punished in one way or another in terms of compensation.

“Because what Anas has done is improper, unethical and immoral,” Captain Effah-Dartey stated in an interview with some journalists on the premises of the Judicial Service Tuesday.

Implicated judges

Seven out of the 12 Justices of the High Court cited in the Anas exposé have been suspended by the Vice-President, acting as President of the country, on the advice of the Judicial Council.

Those affected are Justices Francis K. Opoku, Kofi Essel Mensah, John Ajet Nasam, Ernest Obimpeh, Kwame Ohene Essel, Ivy Heward Mills (Mrs) and Mr Gilbert Ayisi Addo.

Their suspension, according to a statement issued by the Judicial Secretary in Accra, Mr Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, followed the establishment of a prima facie case of misbehaviour against them by the Chief Justice.

Prima facie case

The establishment of the prima facie case follows the setting up of a committee to investigate the petition by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI for the 12 justices to be removed from office.

The statement said the Chief Justice had decided to suspend the determination of a prima facie case in respect of Justices Mustapha Logoh and Paul Uuter Dery as a result of the actions instituted by them against the Chief Justice and Tiger Eye PI, which are still pending in court.

‘We disagree with Chief Justice’

Counsel for Mr Justice Addo stated that he had received and read a letter from the Chief Justice which claimed that a prima facie case had been established against his client who had to appear before the Disciplinary Committee.

“This is a determination by the Chief Justice but I do not agree with her,” he said, but stated that since the Chief Justice had made the determination, his client would appear before the committee.

Regarding the appearance before the committee, he said he would cross-examine Mr Justice Addo’s accusers and “we are sure that my client will be cleared and acquitted and there is no doubt about that.”

He added that after he and other lawyers had watched the scandalous video with Mr Justice Addo, they came to the conclusion that his client had to go through the established process being carried out by the Disciplinary Committee.

“After watching the video, my impression generally was that my client was not culpable in anyway,” Capt Effah-Dartey said.

Counsel for the judge said his client did not receive any money since he sacked the Tiger Eye PI team from his home and wondered why he was added to the list of suspended judges.

“There was no wrongdoing that was available both from the transcript and the whole story against my client.

“I am surprised that he was added to the list of the corruption allegation but I expect my client to come out as a free man,” he stated.