A lawyer and four others face charges in the Achimota Circuit Court for allegedly forging a will. The court granted bail to two of the accused, while others remain at large.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, a 57-year-old lawyer, and Alhaji Seidu Adam Baba, an 82-year-old chief, have been brought before the Achimota Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy, forgery of official documents, and altering forged documents. Additionally, Sam and three others—Abdullai Salia, Abubakar Salia, and Saeed Salia—are charged with perjury.
Presiding over the case, Judge Akosua Abokyewaa Adjepong granted Sam bail at GHC200,000 with three sureties, including a public servant earning at least GHC3,000 who must reside within the jurisdiction. Sam must also report to the police biweekly on Tuesdays. Baba was previously granted bail at GHC150,000 after pleading not guilty. Saeed Salia’s plea was deferred due to his recent arrest.
Details of the Alleged Forgery
Represented by Bernard Koranteng Obiri, Sam sought bail, citing his stable family life and law practice. The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, did not oppose the bail request, noting that the facts of the case would be amended.
According to the prosecution, Baba, the Banda Chief in Accra, conspired with the Salia siblings—who are still at large—to forge the will of the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai. The complainant, Idris Salia, discovered the forgery after his father’s death on June 23, 2021, when a suspicious will surfaced, allegedly deposited at the High Court, Probate Division, since May 7, 2004.
Idris Salia conducted private checks, revealing forged signatures of his father and the late Tony Kenyin Foli, who purportedly witnessed the will. Idris petitioned the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for a thorough investigation. Further inquiries involved Ecobank, Ghana Commercial Bank, and the Registrar General’s Department, where authentic signature samples of the deceased were obtained and compared.
Forensic Findings and Legal Actions
Forensic examination confirmed that the disputed signatures on the will and probate forms were not authored by the named individuals. The investigation established that Sam conspired with the accused to prepare the forged will, with Baba signing as a witness. On November 8, 2021, the three siblings applied to High Court 2, Accra, for a grant of probate based on the forged document.
Sam, in his caution statement to the police, admitted preparing the will and depositing it at the High Court Registry, Probate Division, in 2004. The prosecution revealed that Abubakar and Saeed Salia signed the fraudulent probate form.
The case continues as the court awaits further developments, with some suspects still at large and ongoing amendments to the prosecution’s case.
Source: Graphic Online
