Suspended judges Justice Paul Uuter Dery and Mustapha Habib Logoh, two of the 34 judges implicated in the judicial corruption scandal have sued investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for awarding him the Journalist of the Year 2015.

According to the suit, “A declaration that the conduct of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on 27th August, 2016 by which the GJA, at its 21st Awards ceremony, gave the “Overall Best Journalist of the Year, 2015 Award” to Anas Aremeyaw Anas for his exposé on so-called judicial bribery and corruption is inconsistent with or in contravention of Article 162 (5) of the 1992 Constitution and thus unconstitutional.

Read more: Withdraw Anas’ award - Dery petitions GJA

Anas Aremeyaw Anas at GJA’s 21st award ceremony at the Banquet Hall in Accra was adjudged the overall best journalist for 2015.

He emerged the Journalist of the Year 2015 for exposing 22 Lower Court Judges and 12 High Court Judges who were caught on tape taking bribes to undermine justice.

Justice Paul Dery petitioned the GJA to withdraw the Best Journalist Award given to Anas over his investigative documentary into Judicial corruption.

In a twelve-page petition Dery argued that because he is contesting Anas’ petition to get him out of office, it is not right for the GJA to award him based on a documentary which is still in contention.

See also: Only a court order will let us rescind our decision on Anas -GJA

Dery and Logoh are in court contesting a petition by Anas. The other defendants in the case are Anas (1st defendant), Roland Affail Monney (2nd - GJA president), Mathias Tibu 4th defendant, Vice President (GJA), Dave Agbenu 5th defendant, General Secretary (GJA), Rogking Clottey 6th defendant, Organising Secretary (GJA), Linda Asante 7th defendant Treasurer (GJA), and Mary Mensah 8th defendant Public Relations Officer (GJA)

According to the two embattled judges, awarding Anas is prejudicial and unconstitutional on the part of the journalists in Ghana since the petition is being challenged.

They, however, want the court to declare that “the conduct of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on 27th August, 2016 by which the GJA, at its 21st Awards ceremony, gave the “Overall Best Journalist of the Year, 2015 Award” to Anas Aremeyaw Anas for his exposé on so-called judicial bribery and corruption is inconsistent with or in contravention of Article 3 (3) (a) and 3 (4) (a) of the 1992 Constitution and thus unconstitutional.”

More here: Dery "can't think far" about Anas Aremeyaw's award

“A declaration that the conduct of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on 27th August, 2016 by which the GJA, at its 21st Awards ceremony, gave the “Overall Best Journalist of the Year, 2015 Award” to Anas Aremeyaw Anas for his exposé on so-called judicial bribery and corruption when cases are pending in the Supreme Court and the High Court over the subject matter of the exposé on the so-called judicial bribery and corruption amounts to contempt of court pursuant to Articles 19 (12) and 126 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.

“An order nullifying the Award the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) gave to the 1st Defendant pursuant to Article 1 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.

“An order directed at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to withdraw the Award from Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

“An order punishing the Executive Committee Members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) herein for contempt of court.”

Below are the reliefs being sought by the suspended judges:

“1. A declaration that the Plaintiffs never demanded for any money from the 1st Defendant to influence their decisions in any cases pending before them.

“2. A declaration that the audio visual recordings and transcripts therefore were fraudulently and unlawfully obtained by the 1st Defendant.

See more: Affail Monney accused of single-handedly awarding Anas

“3. General damages for invasion of privacy against the 1st Defendant.

“4. Punitive damages for invasion of privacy against the 1st Defendant

AND against the 1st to 8th Defendants jointly and severally the following reliefs.

“1. General damages for defamation against the 1st Defendant.

“2. Aggravated damages for the malicious and fraudulent recordings, publication and circulation of audio visual recordings.

“3. Exemplary damages against the reckless publications and circulations of the said audio visual recordings.

“4. Compensatory damages against for the damage done to the Plaintiffs’ reputation.

“5. A perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants from publishing any further malicious, unlawful and defamatory material about the Plaintiffs.

“6. Costs including legal fees. “

Source: pulse.com.gh