Lawyer faces trial for allegedly forging will of late businessman

A 52-year-old legal practitioner, Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, is standing trial for allegedly forging a will. The prosecution has decided to continue the case after the Attorney-General took over from the police in November last year following a petition from the complainant, Idris Salia.

The Achimota Circuit Court, presided over by Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, has given the Principal State Attorney, Dominic Bakoma, until March 11, 2025, to study the docket and file all necessary documents before the next adjourned date.

Initially, three siblings—Abdul Salia (alias Abdallai Salia Junior), Abubakar Salia, and Saeed Salia—were also charged in the case. However, the police prosecution later amended the charge sheet in October last year and dropped charges against them. Dissatisfied with this decision, the complainant petitioned the Attorney-General’s Office on October 30, 2024, leading to the case being taken over.

The complainant, Idris Salia, a businessman, became suspicious after the death of his father, Alhaji Salia Abdullai, on June 23, 2021, when a will purported to be his father’s last testament surfaced. The document had been deposited at the registry of the High Court, Probate Division, since May last year. The will was witnessed by the late Tony Kenyin Foli and Alhaji Baba. Upon obtaining a copy, the complainant conducted private checks and discovered that the signatures of his late father and Tony Kenyin Foli had been forged. He then petitioned the Director-General of the CID for an investigation.

Following the investigation, Joseph Kwow Addo Sam, along with Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba, the Chief of Banda in Accra, and the three siblings were charged in August last year with conspiracy, forgery, altering official documents, and perjury. It was found that the accused conspired to prepare the forged will, with Alhaji Seidu Adams Baba signing as a witness to make it appear authentic. The forged document was then presented at the High Court Registry along with a Probate form.

On November 8, 2021, three of the accused persons applied to the High Court 2, Accra, for a grant of probate using the forged will. The complainant, suspecting fraud, petitioned the police, leading to their arrest. The case is ongoing as the Attorney-General’s Office prepares for trial.

By: Hannah Addae