Businessman Cites Deputy IGP, Others For Contempt; Asks Court To Jail Them

A Ghanaian businessman, Theophilus Teiko Tagoe, is asking the High Court in Accra (Land Division 4) to commit the recently appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) in-charge of Operations, Christian Tetteh Yohuno and two other senior police officers, to prison for contempt of court.

The two others are; Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Alhassan Malaika Jibril and Superintendent Bawa Alhassan.

Mr Tagoe, in his motion for committal against the three senior officers, alleged that the Deputy IGP, together with his juniors, were aiding some land-guards to take possession of his parcel of land situated at Adjiringano, a suburb of Accra.

He said the officers, allegedly cover up and provide security for land guards to takeover the land he (Tagoe) bought from the Nugua Traditional Stool in 2007.

Mr Tagoe, the applicant, has also filed a separate motion for contempt at the same court, asking the court to commit six others to prison for contempt of court.

They are, Numor Bortekey Laweh Tsuru (Gborbu Wulomo XXXIII-Shitse, Nungua, Philip Okoe Amartey Mensah, Teshie Accra, and Eugenia Bortieh Gabby, Nungua.

The rest are, Sarah Agyaa Owusu Ansah, popular known as Mame Samanpa Estate, Adjirigano, Sadat Mohammed, Accra, and Abdul Rahman Isaka, Accra.

The Gborbu Wulomo, Numor Bortekey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, is said to be the kingpin, trying to undermine the judgement of the Supreme Court and the authority of the Nungua Mantse, who has power over lands under the Nungua Stool.

Mr Tagoe argues that, the current Wulomo, knows nothing about the land in dispute, saying he (Tagoe) bought the land from the then Gborbu Wulomo XXXII in 2007, and that Gborbu Wulomo XXXIII, was enstooled ten years later, after the passing of Gborbu Wulomo XXXII in 2015

It is the case of Mr Tagoe that, the alleged contemnors, were aware that he (Tagoe) had obtained court judgements, including from the Supreme Court, declaring him as the rightful owner of the land in dispute.

He stated that, he was given consent and confirmatory deed by the Nungua Mantse, Professor King Oboade Odaifio Welentsi III, on June 13, 2024.

According to documents intercepted by this paper, Mr Tagoe, initiated an action against one Dr Prempeh, who was laying claim to the piece of land sometime in 2010 at the High Court in Accra (Land Division).

On July 31, 2015, the high court delivered a judgement in favour of Mr Tagoe and restrained Dr Prempeh and Daniel Mark Marmah, who were the defendants, their agents, assigns, servants or any person of whatever description, claiming through or under them, from having anything to do with the disputed land.

Displeased with the decision of the High Court, the defendants, appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Accra, but a three-member panel, then presided over by Justice Ackah-Yensu, dismissed the appeal.

Not satisfied, the defendants went to the Supreme Court, however, the appeal once again, was unsuccessful.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme court, presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, dismissed the appeal and awarded GH₵20,000 cost against the defendants, bringing the total costs, including those awarded by the high court and the court of Appeal to GH GH₵40,000.

Background

It is the case of Tagoe that, he acquired a leasehold interest on the disputed land measuring 3.25 acres from the Nungua Stool in the year 2007.

He averred that the land in dispute, is part of Adjiringano lands that belong to the Nungua Stool, as confirmed in the decision of the High Court Accra; in Suit N0.L94/99 titled the Empire Builders vrs. Topkings Enterprise and three others dated May 14, 2003.

The plaintiff contends that, he was granted the subject property by Gborbu Wulomo, Bortekey Lawerrh Tsuru XXXII on November 23, 2007, for a period of 99 years.

The plaintiff, further averred that after the grant, he went into effective possession and built a wall around it with the intention of developing later.

However, the first defendant, Dr Prempeh, came to destroy the wall he constructed and laid adverse claim to part of the land, hence the first action against Dr Prempeh before the High Court Accra, in the year 2010.