One of the four lawyers hauled to the General Legal Council over allegations of endemic bribery and corruption in the judiciary is accusing the Association of Judges and Magistrates of using them as scape goats. Abraham Amaliba told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh the Association is “using a sledge hammer to kill an ant”. The Judges and Magistrates Association dragged the four lawyers including Raymond Atuguba, David Annan, and Larry Bimi to the council following emphatic comments by the lawyers that the judiciary stinks with bribery and corruption. The lawyers at a round table discussion on the Judiciary to herald the Constitution Week of the National Commission on Civic Education gave credence to several research findings which claimed the judiciary was one of the most corrupt institutions in the country. Raymond Atuguba insisted nobody could convince him that judges were not corrupt. He cited instances where bribes meant for a judge staying next door were mistakenly brought to his house. Abraham Amaliba corroborated the assertions of Atuguba stating corruption in the judiciary is no longer a perception but a reality. The two other lawyers - David Annan and Larry Bimi- were reported to have made similar comments. But the Judges and Magistrates Association did not take kindly to the allegations. In a communiqué, the Association reprimanded the lawyers and dragged them to the General Legal Council for them to prove the specific allegations of bribery made against the judges, failure which disciplinary action must be taken against them. Even before the Council investigates the matter the Association appears to be ‘blacklisting’ the lawyers involved. The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned indefinitely the case in which Raymond Atuguba counsel for the plaintiff is challenging the citizenship of the Bawku Central MP, Adamu Daramani, ostensibly because of the bribery allegations. But two of the lawyers entangled in the controversy appear belligerent. Larry Bimi told Joy News he would rather go into farming than be cowed into submission by judges. He insisted the judges are not beyond criticism saying, the action by the Association is an affront to freedom of speech. Abraham Amaliba said the action is baffling. He said the allegations of corruption did not emanate from them, explaining their utterances were not to cripple the judiciary but rather to improve it. He said if the Ghanaian society is corrupt, the judiciary is corrupt and so too is the clergy and any other institution. He said the Association must encourage self criticisms. He is ready to face the Legal Council, the consequences not withstanding. He said if he is debarred as a result of his comments he would walk the streets of Accra chest out knowing he constructively criticized the Judiciary and was debarred. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana