Only female judge in the "Anas saga" not new to judicial scandal

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September 10, 2015 2:32 PM

In 2012, the only female judge mentioned in the "Anas Judges Bribery Scandal " got embroiled in a controversial case the GNA captioned " Judge indulges criminals?"

A little historical enquiry into the background of the only female judge mentioned in the "Anas judges bribery", Ivy Heward Mills, is not new to scandals and allegations of corruption and misconduct in carrying out her duties as a Judge.

The female judge got embroiled in a controversial case the GNA captioned

In 2012, the Chief Justice was petitioned by Management of Joebawa Transport Services, a leading transporter for Olam Ghana Limited is suspicious and discontent with the sheer unwillingness of an Accra Circuit Court Judge to trial a case involving stolen goods worth by a crime syndicate. Due to the judicial frustrations, the transport company petitioned her Lordship the Chief Justice to call the judge, Mrs. Ivy Heward-Mills to order, to commence trail on the case which implicates over eight suspects.In addition, the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood was requested to transfer the case to a different judge to adjudicate on the matter.The petition to the Chief Justice dated September 19, 2012, referred to SUIT NO. D2/487/2012 stated in portion that, “On July 25th 2012, I sent a petition to your high office concerning the way Her Honour Ivy Hewards-Mills was handling my case at Circuit Court 8. On 24th August, 2012, when I went to court, the judge invited all the parties to her chambers and started talking, insulting me for the petition which she said was against her.

She immediately adjourned the case to 7th September, 2012. On the adjourned date the case was called. The judge again insulted me in the open court to wit: ‘Do you expect me to give you money to pay for your children school fees? She said she has every right to discharge the accused persons based on the evidence before her.

She further stated that, it was my carelessness that brought me to court, and since she has already taken her decision based on the above reason. She has told us that if any of the nine accused persons or any of their counsels fail to come to court, she will adjourn the case.”The alleged response from the judge was in reaction to an earlier petition to the Chief Justice by the complainant (Jonathan Bawa) that, “I have not been able to pay my kids school fees for the past two terms hence they have been sacked from school. My rent is expired; I took a loan from the bank but cannot pay.

I am therefore in a very serious ordeal. My lord, with the greatest of appeal, I sorrowfully plead for your intervention in this matter. I have been denied justice because justice has been unfairly delayed.”

Later the case would become a hindrance to her swearing- in as High Court Judge as her appointment was put on hold until a judicial enquiry into her conduct in the case had ended. She was exonerated and cleared of the allegations.

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