A complaint has been lodged against Chief Justice Getrude Torkonoo at the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akolgo Yakubu Ayamga.
The senior police officer and lawyer has accused the Chief Justice of abusing her office and powers following an incident where she ordered his arrest during a session of the apex court in November 2023.
In a comprehensive response to media coverage of the matter, Mr Ayamga detailed a series of events leading to his arrest.
According to him, the incident unfolded during his presentation of a case before the Supreme Court, where he respectfully, boldly, and fearlessly presented his arguments.
However, a remark by Chief Justice Torkornoo, stating, “you are shouting,” interrupted his presentation, leading to an order for him to resume his seat.
The disagreement escalated after the Chief Justice allegedly made offensive remarks, questioning Ayamga’s competence and professionalism. In response to these remarks, Ayamga asserts that he calmly and respectfully disagreed, prompting the Chief Justice to order his arrest.
Mr Ayamga was promptly arrested by a subordinate police officer, escorted outside the courtroom, and unlawfully detained for about two hours, according to his account.
The Assistant Superintendent of Police contends that his arrest had nothing to do with his disagreement with the Court’s judgement, as initially reported in the media.
He asserted that the Chief Justice’s actions were driven by “a rush of anger, prejudice, and malice,” constituting an abuse of judicial power.
Mr Ayamga further contended that his arrest, which he claimed was not recorded in the court’s official records, amounted to a deliberate cover-up of the true sequence of events.
“Presumptions aside, a respectful and fearless disagreement with an off judgement remark of a judge is not a criminal offence to trigger arrest and detention. The arrest was unconscionable, irrational, unfair and without due process from the perspective of a reasonable, fair-minded and informed independent person.
“The arrest was merely influenced by a rush of anger, prejudice and malice aforethought which constitute impropriety or abuse of prestige judicial power by the Chief Justice,” the Assistant Superintendent of Police stated in his rejoinder.