A Social Media activist and anti-corruption advocate, Sulemana Issifu, has filed a formal petition with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), calling for a thorough investigation into the conduct of a judge who presided over a recent galamsey-related case in Enchi.

The judge in question had initially released suspects arrested for illegal mining (galamsey) and ordered the return of confiscated excavators—an action that drew widespread public condemnation.

Following the backlash, the judge reportedly reversed the decision, a move that Issifu argues raises serious red flags about the motives behind the initial ruling.

In his petition, Mr. Issifu alleges that the judge’s original decision may have been influenced by corruption rather than law.

He contends that the about-face following public outcry is “a clear manifestation that the initial ruling was not premised on law.”

“His decision, I suspect, was actuated by corruption. And his backtracking after the public backlash is a clear manifestation that his initial ruling was not premised on law,” Issifu stated.

He further argued that such conduct, if proven, strips the judge of the judicial immunity typically afforded to members of the bench in the lawful execution of their duties.

Mr. Issifu revealed that he has also filed additional processes aimed at securing disciplinary action against the judge, promising to disclose more details in due course.

“It’s our duty to ensure that persons exercising the powers of the state do not use that power to the detriment of the very state whose interest they are duty-bound to protect,” he emphasized.

He also raised concerns about what he described as the lack of adequate public scrutiny of the judiciary, noting that this has allowed some judges to act with impunity.

“By far, the Judiciary is the most under-scrutinised arm of government,” Issifu remarked. “If the Judiciary will sit up, many ills perpetrated by our politicians will not happen.”

He warned that he would continue to monitor the handling of galamsey cases in the courts and would not hesitate to take on judges suspected of misconduct.

“This is just the beginning,” Issifu declared. “When judges are held accountable, they will be more careful.

On the matter of galamsey, I’ll keenly monitor their behaviour.”