CHRAJ rejects ASEPA’s petition to probe CJ’s $5m bribery

Civil Society Group ASEPA has expressed reservations over Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice’s (CHRAJ) total rejection of its petition to probe $5 million bribery allegation against the Chief Justice His Lordship Kwasi Anin Yeboah.

According to CHRAJ, the matter is already before a constitutional forum for investigation.

But, ASEPA says the latest refusal of CHRAJ to investigate the matter is completely out of place and depicts the signs that the anti-graft body is gradually becoming weak.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Saturday 21 August 2021 in Accra, Executive Director of ASEPA Mensah Thompson said “CHRAJ could have done better. We’re very disappointed in CHRAJ’s decision not to investigate the matter”.

Meanwhile, Council of State has presented its findings on petition to remove Chief Justice His Lordship Anin Kwasi Yeboah to President Akufo-Addo after investigation.

President Akufo-Addo referred the petition by ASEPA to Council to establish a Prima facie case to trigger processes to the removal of Chief Justice Anin Yeboah.

Presenting their report to President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House on Friday 20 August 2021 in Accra, Chairman of Council of State Nana Otu Serebour said “You referred to us the petition to establish a Prima facie case. We’re here to present to you our findings in line with case law “.

It is expected that a committee will be formed to invite the Chief Justice for questioning if a Prima facie case is established.

Lawyer Kwasi Afrifa in his response to the General Legal Council alleged that the Chief Justice Anin Yeboah attempted to take $5 million from his client Nana Agyeedom Obranu Kwasi Atta to influence a favourable outcomes of his case at the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice has since petitioned Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service to probe the issue, with ASEPA and NDC asking Justice Yeboah to step aside pending investigations into the matter.

General Legal Council has pressed 9 charges against Lawyer Afrifa for levelling empty allegation against the Chief Justice.

But, even before hearing on the Afrifa’s 9 charges begins, Lawyer Afrifa has also sued the General Legal Council for procedural impropriety.

Source : africaneditors.com