The Circuit Court at Achimota has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two sons of the late Alhaji Salia, who are accused of involvement in the alleged forgery of their father’s will.
Abdulai Salia (also known as Abdalla Salia Junior) and Abubakar Salia have failed to appear in court over their father’s will.
They, along with three others, face charges including conspiracy, forgery, altering official documents, and perjury.
On Tuesday, March 12, 2025, the court, presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, issued the bench warrant following a prayer by the prosecution.
Dominic Bakoma, a Principal State Attorney from the Attorney General’s Office, informed the court that the two brothers were aware of the pending case but had refused to appear.
He prayed for a bench warrant to be issued.
However, Lawyer Paul Asibi Abariga, one of the defense counsels, argued that there was no proof that the two brothers had been informed of the case.
Withdrawal of Charge Sheet
The court prior to adjourning the case struck out the amended charge sheets filed on October 23, 2024, and March 10, 2025 following prosecution withdrawal.
This decision was made after Principal State Attorney Dominic Bakoma requested to withdraw the existing charge sheets to put their house in order.
But, prayed for the charge sheet filed on August 14, 2024 to remain.
The prosecution plans to file a new amended charge sheet that will. Defense lawyers, including Paul Asibi Abariga, didn’t oppose the request but sought clarity on the next steps.
This development comes after the Attorney General’s Office took over the case from the police, following a petition from the complainant, Idris Salia. The case has been adjourned to April 16.
Charges
Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, Esq., a 52-year-old private legal practitioner, along with Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba, said to be the Chief of Banda in Accra, and three siblings—Abdul Salia (alias Abdallai Salia Junior), Abubakar Salia, and Saeed Salia—have been charged.
The accused faced charges including conspiracy, forgery, altering official documents, and perjury.
Two of the three siblings—Abdul Salia (alias Abdallai Salia Junior) and Abubakar Salia—are currently at large.
However, the police prosecution informed the court that the charge sheet had been amended, dropping charges against all three siblings: Abdul Salia (alias Abdallai Salia Junior), Abubakar Salia, and Saeed Salia.
Unhappy with this development, the complainant, Idris Salia, petitioned the Attorney General’s Office on October 30, 2024.
Brief Facts
According to the case’s brief facts, the complainant, Idris Salia, is a businessman, while the first accused (A1), Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, Esq., is a lawyer.
The second accused (A2), Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba, is the Chief of Banda in Accra.
The third, fourth, and fifth accused—Saeed Salia, Abdul Salia (alias Abdallai Salia Junior), and Abubakar Salia, respectively—are siblings. Their late father was Alhaji Salia Abdullai.
ASP Isaac Babayi stated that following the death of Alhaji Salia Abdullai on June 23, 2021, a will surfaced, purported to be his last will, which was deposited at the registry of the High Court, Probate Division, on May 7, 2004.
The will was witnessed by the now-deceased Tony Kenyin Foli and Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba (A2).
The complainant became suspicious after obtaining a copy of the will and conducting private checks, which revealed that the signatures of his late father, Alhaji Salia Abdullai, and the late Tony Kenyin Foli were forged.
He subsequently petitioned the Director-General of the CID to investigate the matter.
Certified copies of the will were obtained from the High Court Registrar, and a statement previously submitted by Tony Kenyin Foli was retrieved from the Regional Police Headquarters/CID.
Signature samples from the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai were collected from Ecobank, Ghana Commercial Bank, and the Registrar General’s Department.
Both the undisputed and disputed signatures were examined by the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service Forensic Department and Spotlight Security Solution.
Investigations revealed that the signatures on the purported will and probate form (Judicial Form 35) did not match those of the named individuals.
Conspiracy
It was determined that A1 conspired with A2, A3, A4, and A5 to prepare the forged will of the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai, with A2 signing as a witness to make it appear genuine.
The will and associated probate form were presented to the High Court Registry, and on August 11, 2021, A3, A4, and A5 applied for probate based on the forged will.
The complainant, suspecting the will’s authenticity, petitioned the police.
Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, Esq., was arrested and, in his caution statement, admitted to preparing and depositing the will at the High Court Probate Division on May 7, 2004.
Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba (the second accused) was also arrested but refused to provide a statement to the police.
The fourth and fifth accused signed the probate form, which was procured through fraud.
The first and second accused have been charged with the listed offenses.
