Accra: Private legal practitioner and law lecturer, Thaddeus Sory, has reacted to the dismissal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo's case against the government by the ECOWAS Community Court. In a brief post on his Facebook page, Sory appeared to take a swipe at the former Chief Justice, writing, "The law is the law. It is still the law. And this is the law."
According to Ghana Web, the ECOWAS Community Court unanimously dismissed all seven claims brought by Justice Torkornoo concerning her removal from office. Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, confirmed the ruling, noting that the court found no violation of the former Chief Justice's rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Dr. Srem-Sai further disclosed that the court declined to award the US$10 million in damages sought by Justice Torkornoo. "In respect of Her Ladyship's claim for US$10 million damages, the Court held that 'in light of the Court's conclusions that Ghana has not violated any of the Applicant's rights under the African Charter as alleged, the Court makes no decision on reparations'," he added.
Justice Torkornoo had filed applications at the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, Nigeria, through Nigerian lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, following her suspension and the process to remove her from office. She argued that her right to a fair hearing under the 1992 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights had been violated, citing the president's failure to properly state the basis of the petitions used to establish a prima facie case against her before her suspension.
$10m, Revocation of Suspension: Details of CJ Torkornoo's ECOWAS court suit against the government revealed that Justice Torkornoo described the process as arbitrary and capricious. She argued that it subjected her to unfair treatment and public ridicule while proceedings against her were ongoing. She sought several reliefs, including a declaration that her suspension violated her rights, an order for her reinstatement, and US$10 million in compensation for alleged reputational damage.