Judicial Corruption: It�s Only Fair & Logical To Air Anas' Video... - Vitus Azeem

Executive Director at Ghana Integrity Initiative, Vitus Azeem has joined the mass crusade that the video of some 34 judges who were captured by the cameras of the ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremyaw Anas should be aired on the scheduled date without fear or favor.

Lawyers in the country are engaged in a raging debate as to whether the video and audio detailing alleged extortion and bribery by judges and staff of the courts in undercover investigations by ace journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas constitute entrapment.

Several lawyers have argued that Anas lured the 34 judges implicated in the scandal, but others disagree.

Another issue is the 14 judges suing the Judicial Council (JC) on grounds that the disciplinary action against them was contrary to law and/or due process.

The judges said the panel constituted by the Chief Justice to institute disciplinary proceedings against the plaintiffs has no legal basis, and is, therefore, null and void.

Commenting on whether to air the video involving the judges in corruption, Mr. Vitus Azeem told Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, host of OkayFM's Ade Akyi Abia show that it will be fair to do so, adding that Anas has always aired his videos involving corrupt state officials.

He reminded that “nobody has complained about Anas’ videos in the past and so it is only logical that they are aired; it will be fair and give chance to Ghanaians to see what Anas is saying”.

It may even help in the identification of those that are involved and it will even get people who have been affected in the past but are not covered in the video to publicly appear to give evidences about certain judges and certain officials,” he stated.

He however hoped for fair hearing by the Judicial Council so that the outcome of the investigation gives the country a conviction whether the judges should be fired or prosecuted.

He indicated that showing the video about the judges in bribery scandal will not affect the trust of Ghanaians in the judicial service; stressing “no matter what, the court will continue to exist and people will go to court to seek justice and so let’s allow the process to take its course”.