Bribery allegation against Chief Justice a useless enterprise – Kweku Baako

Editor-in-Chief of The New Crusading Guide newspaper has cast doubts on accusations of bribery to the tune of $5 million levelled against the Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin-Yeboah.

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako sees that assertion by a lawyer, Akwasi Afrifa, as a “useless and malicious” venture that will amount to nothing in the end.

“I am telling you that I don’t believe an iota of what he has put out there. I don’t believe it,” he told JoyNews.

The Kumasi-based lawyer made the allegation in a letter circulating on social media.

The letter was a response to an invitation by the General Legal Council for him to appear before it, in relation to a petition by his former client, Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta IV, for failing to pay an amount of $75,000 he (Akwasi Afrifa, Esq) owes the latter.

Akwasi Afrifa alleged that his former client, Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta IV informed him that Chief Justice Kwesi Annin-Yeboah, “demanded a bribe of $5,000,000 for a successful outcome of his case and that he had already paid $500,000 to the Chief Justice.”

But the Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah has dismissed these claims and subsequently referred the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Baako insisted that the development is a useless venture and has only been given the current attention by the Chief Justice because of the Integrity of his office.

“Because of the high office the CJ holds, that is why he has decided that look, let the CID, General Legal Council and others do something about it. He doesn’t want to leave it out there handing is that there will be speculation on his integrity,” he told Samson Anyenini on Saturday.

His sentiments were shared by IMANI Africa Vice President, Kofi Bentil who believes the allegations are mere fabrications and should be treated with the contempt that it deserves.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), at a press conference on July 13, demanded that Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah steps aside temporarily, following the allegation.

But Chief policy analyst at the Ghana Institute of Public Policy Options, Charles Wereko-Brobby, believes such calls are merely political capital that must be dismissed.

“If the chief had come out to say that the CJ demanded the said amount from him, or he was made to pay the said amount, then this matter would have demanded more merit, but as it is, it is hearsay, and it should be dismissed for what it is,” he added.