High Court judge Ivy Heward Mills sacked

High Court judge, Justice Ivy Heward Mills is the latest of victim of the judicial bribery scandal that rocked the country last year.

President John Mahama has directed that she should be removed from the Bench after she was found culpable in the investigations triggered by the petition filed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tigereyepi.

A statement signed by the First Deputy Judicial Secretary, Justice Juliana Amonoo-Neizer said a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, to investigate the allegation concluded its investigation.

“The Committee after its investigations into the petition by Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Tigereyepi found that Justice Ivy Heward Mills:

1) Contrary to rules 3 (7) and 4 (A) of the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates did not only engage in ex-parte communications on the suit, Nana Kofi Annan & Or. Vs John Kojo Bobbie which was pending before her but also advised the defendants in the suit on the best approach to defend the case against the plaintiff.

“2. While denying that she did not accept any amount of money from the petitioner’s teammates in her chambers, this may be accepted, but her explanation that what the petitioner’s teammate gave her in her car at the Aggrey Memorial School Junction was an invitation card to a social event was unacceptable.

“3. Rather, it was money she accepted to influence her ruling in accordance with an agreement reached as a result of a discussion held with the petitioner’s teammate.”

She has therefore been asked to “hand over her bungalow and all official properties in her possession including her official government vehicle, dockets and record books to the Judicial secretary.”

Over 20 judges have been sacked in connection with the corruption scandal.

Below is the statement:
PRESS RELEASE
ANOTHER HIGH COURT JUDGE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AFTER TIGEREYEPI EXPOSE

Another High Court Judge, Justice Ivy Heward Mills has been removed from office with effect from June 20, 2016, after she was found culpable in the judicial corruption scandal uncovered by Anas Aremeyaw Anas of tigereyepi.

His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama, in a letter dated June 17, 2016, accepted the recommendation for her removal from office by the committee set up the Hon. Lady Chief Justice to investigate a petition from Anas Aremeyaw Anas of tigereyepi for same on grounds of Stated Misbehaviour.

The investigative committee was established by the Hon. Lady Chief Justice in accordance with Article 146(4) of the 1992 Constitution after she had determined that a prima facie case had been established against Justice Ivy Heward Mills in the petition submitted to the President on August 31, 2015.

The petition was referred to the Chief Justice by the President to make the prima facie determination in accordance with Article 146(3) of the 1992 Constitution.

The Committee after its investigations into the petition by Anas Aremeyaw Anas of tigereyepi, found that Justice Ivy Heward Mills:

1. Contrary to Rules 3(7) and 4(A) of the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates, did not only engage in ex-parte communication on the suit, Nana Kofi Annan & Or. Vrs John Kwadwo Bobie which was pending before her, but also advised the Defendant in the suit on the best approach to defend the case against the Plaintiff.

2. While denying that she did not accept any amount of money from the Petitioner's team mate in her chambers, this may be accepted, but her explanation that what the Petitioner's team mate gave her in her car at the Aggrey Memorial School Junction was an invitation card to a social event, was unacceptable.

3. Rather, it was money she accepted to influence her ruling in accordance with the agreement reached as a result of the discussion held with the Petitioner's teammate.

Following her removal from office, Justice Ivy Heward Mills is to hand over her bungalow and all official properties in her possession including her official bungalow and all official properties in her possession including her official Government vehicle, Dockets and Record Books to the Judicial Secretary, forthwith.

The Director of Human Resource has also been requested to ensure that her name is deleted from the payroll of the Judicial Service with effect from June 20, 2016.

JUSTICE JULIANA AMONOO-NEIZER
FIRST DEPUTY JUDICIAL SECRETARY
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com