Chief Justice US$5MILLION Bribe Scandal – Lawyer Sues General Legal Council

The General Legal Council (GLC)’s decision to level nine charges against Lawyer KWASI Afrifa, the man at the center of the alleged US$5million bribe that Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah received to pervert justice for a client, has been resisted.

Lawyer Afrifa is asking the High Court to set aside the said meeting held by the GLC’s disciplinary Council on July 15, 2021, and its resolution as it was wrongful, illegal and contrary to the rules of natural justice.

Among others, the GLC charged Lawyer Afrifa of failure to protect the sanctity and integrity of the legal profession in his capacity as an officer of the court.

But this position, he contends is unfair and contrary to the rules of natural justice because all he did was to speak the truth, nothing but the truth.

And in Lawyer Kwasi Afrifah’s truth, his client, Traditional ruler Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI to whom he had served as a lawyer in a case against the Ghana Telecom had at a point told him that some influential people had introduced him to some people connected to his case, including Chief Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah who is the presiding judge.

Allegedly, the Chief Justice demanded a US$5million bribe in exchange for him giving him favorable judgment in the case.

As part of the arrangement, the Chief had been advised to replace him (Lawyer Afrifa) with a more powerful Lawyer- President Akufo-Addo’s longtime friend and Lawyer, Akoto Ampaw.

The Chief then told him he had begun mobilizing the huge bribe but that it was not easy and so he should help by refunding part of the legal fees already paid to Lawyer Afrifah.

However, the chief has also claimed that it was Lawyer Afrifa rather who had demanded US$100,000 from him with the promise to use it for “ways and means” in respect of the case with Ghana Telecom.

Since the scandal broke, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah has denied and asked the Police to investigate leading to questioning of the Lawyer by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service

In addition to supposedly soiling the name of the judiciary, the GLC cites Lawyer Afrifa’s failure to disclose the allegation of bribery against the Chief Justice to the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council or any other statutory body for an inquiry as unacceptable.

He also unacceptably failed to issue receipts to his client following payment of legal fees, that he facilitated the commission of the alleged bribery offence by refunding fees he was legally paid and duly entitled to, that he made a reckless statement suggesting judicial manipulation by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

But Mr. Afrifa contends the Disciplinary Committee engaged in procedural impropriety.

He wants the High court to stop the GLC from embarking on any hearing flowing from its first meeting where a prima facie case was made against him.