From A Dishonest Magistrate to A Corrupt High Court Judge? | The Case of Justice Ajet Nassam; Then and Now…

You wouldn’t catch a corrupt person without a background story—it always starts from somewhere, mostly, it starts on a small front and then graduates to unbearable degree.

Ghanaians are still in shock over the recent revelation of investigative journalist-Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which cited over 170 of Ghana’s judiciary officers including 34 judges as allegedly corrupt—and unworthy of office.

One of Ghana’s respectable High Court judges- Justice John Ajet-Nassam who freed Alfred Agbesi Woyome in a controversial Gh¢51 million judgment debt scandal is among those the inescapable net of the investigation cites as corrupt.

Apart from Justice Ajet Nassam’s sort of ‘celebrity status’ in Ghana’s legal playground, his national and international standing as a judge of reputation was always considered as well grounded—another reason why the mention of his name by the painstaking investigation adds a different layer to the whole scandal.

In spite of the virtuous posture Justice Ajet Nassam carried around town which has been heavily tainted or somewhat collapsed by this allegation of judicial corruption, a report as far back as 2004 sort of suggests that, there was always something ‘dishonourable’ about  Ajet Nassam.

About 11 years ago while Ajet Nassam was the District Magistrate in Bimbilla, the residents went after his head—because, they considered him corrupt and alleged that his judgements were inconsistent with justice…

During Anas’ undercover dealing with Justice Ajet Nassam, the latter stated that; “It was when I was in Bimbilla and Yendi that people used to be generous but in Accra I haven’t seen anybody like you.”  And that was after he allegedly took the bribe which will probably end his legal career.

It’s this same Bimbilla that he was reported back then as causing ‘judicial mayhem’ with his controversial rulings; sometimes, he changed sentences from time in prison to fines—days after the first has been pronounced. People thought he was paid to revoke his own sentences…

A Ghana News Agency report on 29^th June 2004 stated that, “some residents of Bimbilla in the Nanumba District

have expressed concern about the “improper and unprofessional acts” of the District Magistrate, Mr Adjet Nassam and the Bimbilla Police towards suspects brought before them. They have, therefore, threatened to take the law into their own hands and deal with suspects, particularly thieves, if nothing was done to change the trend and restore the confidence of the public in the Police and the District Magistrate.”

For Adjet Nassam who was then a mere Mr. to have been ‘stoned’ as corrupt without anyone really paying attention—and then over  a decade later be cited in the biggest judicial scandal of Ghana as once again corrupt when he holds the title ‘Justice’ of the High Court, throwing in sheer coincidence does not seem like a plausible deduction to me.

People don’t just change over night and surely, people do not jump to take big bribes over night, it starts on a small scale—with the help of time which assists in building confidence and the needed walls, these persons go for the bigger catch. That is how it develops…

The 2004 GNA report continued;

“Mr Attah Sualisu, a complainant, in a letter to the GNA, made a number of allegations against the Magistrate in the handling of a case in which three suspects were brought before him for allegedly stealing his cattle.

Mr Sualisu said Mr Nassam, popularly called “Daasebre”, sentenced the first accused, Musah Abubakari to a 12-month jail term for stealing. He said while Abukari pleaded guilty, the second and third accused Ibrahim Wumbei and Ali Iddrisu. who pleaded not guilty were remanded for a fortnight to re-appear before the court on May 19, this year. Mr Sualisu said when Wumbei and Iddrisu re-appeared on May 19, Abubakari, who had earlier been sentenced was again brought before the Magistrate, who reviewed the sentence and instead, imposed a 300,000 – cedi fine on Abubakari while he sentenced the other two accused who pleaded guilty this time, to 12 months’ imprisonment each.

Mr Sualisu said the Magistrate, sitting on another case, sentenced one Adam Salifu to two years’ imprisonment for stealing two goats belonging to Mr Haruna Mohammed and Mr Adam Abdulai, both residents of Bimbilla. He alleged that even though Salifu was given a two-year jail sentence, he was now out of prison when he had not served up to four months. Mr Sualisu said the convict was boasting that no one could imprison him, adding: “This situation is discouraging people from sending suspects to the court”.

On the allegation against the Bimbilla Police, Mr Sualisu said he personally arrested the fourth accused in the cattle rustling case, one Seidu Iddrisu, who bought the stolen cattle from the three other accused persons and sent him to the Police Station but the Police had failed to produce him for prosecution till date.

He said when he questioned the Police on Iddrisu’s whereabouts; they told him that he had jumped bail but no efforts had been made to re-arrest him though it was no secret that he lived in Wullensi.

The Magistrate, Mr Nassan, however, explained to the GNA in a telephone interview that he reviewed his earlier 12-month jail sentence of Abubakari because the Police withdrew the first charge sheet and submitted fresh charges against all the three accused persons. He said in order to be fair to the first accused he ordered that all the three should re-appear before the Court to face the new charges. He said when they re-appeared the first accused who had earlier pleaded guilty showed remorse while the others did not, adding that he, therefore, changed his earlier sentence of Abubakari to a fine of 300,000 cedis.”

Shocking but familiar…right? Did anyone pay attention to these allegations at the time? Of course No; this is Ghana—who cares?

The report concluded with this; “It’s up to the Court for the fresh charges the Magistrate produced the new charge sheet and said the Court Registry made a mistake and entered remand warrant for all the three accused instead of the 12 months jail sentence for the first accused and two weeks remand each for the second and third accused.

On the allegation that Salifu had not served his two-year jail term and was seen in town, Mr Nassan said he was not aware of it and that it was not his duty to keep prisoners.

Reacting the Magistrate’s report, Police Detective Pobi told the GNA that the Police only added the name of the fourth accused, Iddrisu who is now at large, to the charge sheet and did not issue fresh charges as alleged by the Magistrate.

The Station Officer in charge of the Bimbilla Police Station, Chief Inspector S.A. Mumuni and the Nanumba District Police Commander refused to comment.”

The allegations can be totally false but considering what we know today about Justice Ajet Nassam, it wouldn’t be entirely contemptuous to consider the above as true—and add that, perhaps, Bimbilla shaped the direction of Ajet Nassam’s career.

We always have options in life but most times, we choose those that fulfil our self desire—and those we are familiar with…

READ ALSO: Judiciary Corruption in Ghana | A Complete Waste of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Time & Resource