A Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta, has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi and businessman Richard Jakpa for allegedly conspiring to interfere with the administration of justice in the case of Republic V. Cassiel Ato Forson & 2 Others.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said his petition is motivated by a keen interest in upholding the rule of law, good governance, and democracy.
The petition requests the CID to investigate Justice Kulendi and Richard Jakpa, “to unravel all acts of criminality disclosed by their conduct, and take such prosecutorial action as is consistent with law.”
According to the petition, the trial of the accused persons began in January 2023. It alleges that Richard Jakpa used his familial connection with Justice Kulendi to obstruct justice, with the ultimate objective of either securing his acquittal or having the prosecution against him abated by the then Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
The petition asserts that the actions of Justice Kulendi and Richard Jakpa may constitute criminal offenses relating to interference with legal proceedings under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Key allegations cited in the petition include:
-
Intervention at Arraignment: On January 18, 2023, after Richard Jakpa was arraigned, he allegedly solicited Justice Kulendi’s help to influence the Attorney-General to permit his release, even though he had not met the bail conditions. Justice Kulendi reportedly visited the former Attorney-General’s office to request this.
-
Facilitating Contact: Richard Jakpa reportedly obtained the Attorney-General’s phone number from Justice Kulendi and attempted to meet him, sending numerous WhatsApp messages, which were admitted as evidence during the trial on June 18, 2024. The Attorney-General refused these meeting requests.
-
WhatsApp Disparity: Trial records show that Richard Jakpa sent 68 WhatsApp messages to the former Attorney-General, who responded only twice, as confirmed under cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa.
-
Secret Meetings: When the Attorney-General declined Jakpa’s requests, Justice Kulendi allegedly held private meetings at his residence on at least four occasions, secretly inviting Jakpa to interfere in the legal proceedings. This included attempts to halt the prosecution or ensure Jakpa’s release during the submission of no-case stage of the trial. Trial records indicate that outside the courtroom and Justice Kulendi’s residence, the Attorney-General had no interactions with Jakpa.
The petition includes copies of WhatsApp communications between Jakpa and the Attorney-General, as well as court records demonstrating potential interference in legal proceedings.
Mr. Ofori-Atta has indicated that he plans to petition the President to remove Justice Yonny Kulendi on grounds of misconduct and stated misbehavior.
Source: Maxwell Kudekor
