Rules being bent to favour lawless Anas

Legal practitioner John Ndebugri is incensed by the posture of the Committee set up to probe judicial corruption scandal, accusing it of bias.

The lead counsel for 14 circuit court judges and magistrate who challenged the committee’s hearing procedure, said the committee unfairly treats judges implicated in the scandal who appeared before it. The committee is however, willing to alter rules to favour undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Anas has petitioned the Chief Justice to impeach 34 judges who were caught on camera allegedly taking bribes and subverting justice. Some of the judges have been fighting strenuously in court to scuttle the two-year investigative piece.

Some of the challenges have hit a snag. An Accra High Court this week, for instance, dismissed suit brought by the 14 circuit court judges and magistrates trying to stop the work of the committee investigating them.

Since the hearing of the committee, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who is the key witness, has been appearing before it hooded.

Attempts by lawyers for the implicated judges to get him to remove the covering were rejected by the committee.

So how can the troubled judges and their lawyers be able to tell if indeed the hooded man is the same Anas they dealt with? displeased Mr. Ndebugri asked on Joy FM’s news analysis prgoramme, Newsfile Saturday.

Even chiefs are forced to remove their chieftaincy head-dress or crown and persons wearing dark glasses removed them when they appear in court so that their demeanour can be determined - whether you are lying or not.

“It is unfair… it is just like bending the rules to please one person,” Mr. Ndebugri retorted.

John Ndebugri
The lawyer who is challenging Anas to come clear if he is not a spirit, said he has refused to represent his clients at the committee on the ground that Anas would come hooded.

Even if he decides to appear before the committee, he said, he is going to object to the hooded Anas and if he is overruled, “I will excuse myself and walk out” of the committee.

“I will not cross-examine a hooded persons, I am not participating in the dubious process,” he said determinedly.

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