Judge Rebuts Bribery Allegation

By Stephen K. Effah
Friday, 22 August 2008

A middle-aged woman last Friday stunned an Accra Circuit Court when she informed the sitting judge of an alleged bribery made against him by a man from one of the factions in the Osu rioting case which is before the judge.

According to the woman, Victoria Quaye, the man, Feihi Quartey, had on two occasions told her that they have bribed the court to end the case, saying “he told me the case has already finished since they have seen the court”.

Madam Quaye made the revelation to the judge, Iddrisu Mahamadu, just when the court was about to take the plea of five of the 13 accused persons who appeared in court yesterday.

Speaking in Ga, the woman told the court that Feihi first made the allegation when the case was referred to the Attorney General for advice, adding the second time was when the case was first brought before the judge.

The statement by the woman did not only shock the court but the judge who asked Quartey to tell the open court when, where and who he alleged to have bribed to end the case which is before him.

But Feihi denied having told Madam Quaye of bribing the court to end the criminal case, but Madam Quaye maintained that Feihi together with his younger brother did tell her that they have bribed the court.

Reacting, Mr.Mahamadu, described the allegation as “funny talk” and denied having been bribed by anybody to end the case, saying “it cannot happen. Nobody will dare”.
He told the people in the courtroom that nobody has come to “see” either him or his workers in the courtroom or chambers.

He said he has confidence in his workers and that none of them will compromise on their integrity for money, saying “our hands are clean”.

Mr.Mahamadu said that he has been on the bench since 1996 but has never taken bribe from anyone, noting “people have tried but they do not succeed,” which makes them wonder whether he is “crazy”.

He said that he work to please God almighty who sees him all the time, adding “you never can hide anything from him. I am happy that people appreciate that I am here for justice”.

The judge lauded Madam Quaye for her move, saying that it was good that she did not go to an F.M station to make the allegation for him and the court to have been “bastardised”.

He assured her of fair trial to ensure justice and urged her not to let the allegation dampen her spirit, and that the factions in the case should keep their money for their lawyers.

In the substantive case, all the five persons pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of conspiracy to commit crime, rioting with offensive weapons, unlawful entry, assault and causing unlawful damage.

The five, each of whom is on a 150 Ghana Cedi bail, are: Lawrence Quist, Samuel Dowuona, Paul Dowouna, Jacob Adom and Nii Saban Atsen.

The other seven people, who were given a 100 Ghana Cedi police bail are on the run, and the court has ordered the prosecution to bring their sureties to court on the next adjourned date, August 22.

They are Abdul Rauf, Mohammed Awal, Abubakari Yusiff, Evaris Bambara, Antaru Issaka, Mohammed Inusah and Kwame Akuni.

Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, ASP Kofi Blagoge, said Quist and Samuel Dowuona together with some elders from the Dowuona Clan from Osu were invited by the Kpehe Divisional Police Commander following reports that some youth had planned to take over the Osu palace.

According to the prosecutor, that was based on extract received from the National House of Chiefs to the effect that Nii Nortey Owuo III had been de-stooled as the Osu Manste.

ASP Blagoge said that at the meeting, the accused persons were advised to use due process of the law and not to take the law into their hands as their action was likely to breach the peace in the area.

That notwithstanding, Quist and Sameul Dowuona were alleged to have gone to Nima and Maamobi to recruit other people and promised them 8,000 Ghana cedis if they invaded the palace with the intention of occupying it.

In the event of that, the accused persons were said to have attacked some people who were in the palace at the time, including the Besheo Cultural Troupe who were rehearsing at the palace, and destroyed their drums among other things.

The police upon information moved in and arrested them.