Lawyer Chris Ackumey says he is unfazed by the Chief Justice’s invitation to him to substantiate his claim that a judge he knows took a bribe of GHS500 in 2008, adding that he has an incontrovertible and overwhelming evidence to prove his claim. Mr Ackumey who noted that he appreciated the opportunity to give his evidence, reiterated in an interview with Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoe Tuesday that corruption in the judiciary is real and no longer a perception on paper. He first made the bribery allegation whilst contributing to discussions on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme on Saturday and promised to name the judge at the appropriate time. A letter signed by Justice Julius Ansah, a Justice of the Supreme Court and Director of the Complaints Unit of the Judicial Service gave Mr. Ackumey May 31, 2011 as the deadline for him to respond to the invitation. The letter read in part: “In view of the seriousness of your allegation and the avowed aim of the Judicial Service under the leadership of the Hon. Lady Chief Justice to fight corruption in the Judiciary whenever it rears its head, I am inviting you to provide the Unit with information relative to this specific allegation so it can be investigated and the appropriate action taken thereafter.” Although Mr Ackumey told Joy News he was yet to receive the letter, he was willing to cooperate to help purge and sanitise the judicial system. “Immediately I have the letter, I will act appropriately. I will mention the name of the judge, the date, the time, the place, the four people – Raymond and others – who were privy to it when the money was handed over, and the registrar to whom the money was given to,” he maintained. Giving a gist of the bribery allegation, Mr Ackumey said a cash-strapped friend of his requested GH¢500 from him to give to a judge who was demanding money from him to rule on his case. Though not surprised by the demand, he said, but for want of evidence, he (Ackumey) “borrowed” money from the wife and followed the man to bribe the judge. “We are not saying that (all) judges are corrupt, no that is not what we are saying. What we are saying is that some elements of corruption exist in the judiciary. And if they want an example, I am prepared to give them an example, so that whatever needs to be done in order to clean the system would be done. I am not fabricating,” he insisted. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana