A-G takes over trial of Lawyer & four others in alleged forgery of Will case 

A 52-year-old lawyer, Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, has once again appeared before the Achimota Circuit Court, alongside four other accused persons, in a case involving forgery, conspiracy and perjury.

The case, presided over by Her Honour Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, has faced delays due to the Attorney General’s Office taking over prosecution from the police.

During the latest hearing, the court indicated that all necessary processes for a Case Management Conference (CMC) had been filed, paving the way for the trial to commence.

The CMC was initially scheduled for November 23, 2024 but due to the reassignment of the case to Principal State Attorney, Dominic Bakoma, the court, on last week Thursday, directed its Registrar to ensure Mr. Bakoma is served with the necessary documents.

The case was adjourned to March 11, 2025 to allow for a smooth start to the trial.

At the last court session, only Joseph Kwow Addo Sam and Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba were present.

Another accused person, Saeed Salia, was reportedly on his way to court at the time of proceedings.

Abdul Salia, alias Abdullai Salia Junior and Abubakar Salia are allegedly at large.

The five accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit forgery of official documents, perjury and others.

Joseph Kwow Addo Sam has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of GH¢200,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be a Public Servant earning at least GH¢3,000 and residing in Accra. Chief Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba was granted bail of GH¢150,000 with three sureties.

Background 

The case revolves around a disputed Will and Testament allegedly forged after the death of Alhaji Salia Abdulai on June 23, 2021.

The complainant, Idris Safin, a businessman and son of the deceased suspects’ foul play in the emergence of the Will, as his late father reportedly followed Islamic principles, which forbid leaving a written will for immediate family members.

Following a petition to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), forensic analysis was conducted on the disputed Will.

The signatures on the document were compared to official records from banks and the Registrar General’s Department.

Expert reports from the Ghana Immigration Service and Spotlight Security Solutions confirmed that the signatures attributed to Alhaji Salia Abdulai and another Witness, the late Tony Kenyin Foli, were forged.

Investigators further revealed that before the rest of the deceased’s children were informed about the Will, three of the accused persons – Saeed Salia, Abdulai Salia and Abubakar Salia – were already in possession of the document and had applied for probate at the High Court, Probate Division on November 8, 2021.

The application was endorsed and signed by Saeed Salia and Abubakar Salia.

It was also discovered that Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, who allegedly drafted the Will, was listed as an Executor and Trustee in the probate application.

Further investigations showed that he had previously acted as a Lawyer, Director and Secretary for companies owned by one of the accused, Abdulai Salia.

With the court now ensuring that the prosecution is fully prepared, the trial is expected to commence after the next adjourned date on March 11, 2025.

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