STATEMENT: Prez Mahama Fires Ajet Nassam, Obimpeh...As High Court Judges
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the removal of Justice John Ajet-Nasam and Justice Ernest Obimpeh from office as Justices of the High Court on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
This follows President Mahama’s acceptance of the recommendations of a Five- Member Impeachment Committee that investigated their conduct in accordance with article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. The Committee was chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court.
The two Justices are among the High Court Judges against whom TigerEyepi submitted a petition for their removal from office on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
It will be recalled that in August last year, the Honourable Lady Chief Justice received 2 petitions from tigereyepi, one was in respect of 12 High Court Judges while the other was on 22 Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates.
The Petition against the High Court Judges requested the President to initiate impeachment proceedings against them in accordance with article 146 of the Constitution.
In a related development, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the removal of His Lordship Justice Ringo Cass Akurugu Azumah from office as a Justice of the High Court on grounds of stated misbehaviour and incompetence.
The President acted upon the recommendations of a Five-Member Committee that investigated a petition against the Judge in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. The Committee was chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Several complaints of absenteeism were filed against the Judge by users of the court and a leading legal firm.
Further to that, a formal petition was submitted to the Honourable Lady Chief Justice on January 8, 2015, complaining that the Judge persistently absented himself from court.
On receiving the complaints, Justice R.C Azumah was asked to appear before a Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council for Superior Court Judges. The Committee found his conduct to be in breach of his Judicial Oath and office, in continuously failing to sit without permission or stated reason.
The Committee further found that the Judge's general conduct amounted to gross dereliction of duty, stated misbehaviour and incompetence.
On receipt of the report of the Disciplinary Committee, the Judicial Council decided that Justice Azumah should be impeached. The Council therefore submitted a petition to His Excellency the President to that effect.
H.E the President, in line with article 146 (3) requested the Chief Justice to set up a Committee to investigate the matter pursuant to article 146 (4) of the constitution.
The Committee’s recommendations have been accepted by the President in accordance with article 146 (9) of the Constitution thus his removal from office as a Justice of the High Court.
In view of the above, Justice Azumah is to hand over his bungalow and all official properties in his possession including the official Government vehicle, Dockets and Record Books to the Judicial Secretary forthwith.
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