Captain Edmund Odamtey
Koda, a bodyguard of President Nana Akufo-Addo and two others, namely Eugene Sowah Odamtey and Hares Muda have been dragged to an Acca High Court Land Division for contempt of court over their alleged involvement in a demolition exercise on a huge parcel of land situated at Borteyman/Adjirigarnon in the Greater Accra Region.
The land is already under litigation between the Ashaley Botwe and the Nmai Dzorn families both of whom claim ownership despite the land belonging to the Nungua Stool. Whereas the two families are before the High Court, Accra (Land Division 8) in suit No: L/2970/93, Adjetey Agbosu and others Vs Ebenezer Nikoi Kotey and others over the land, ownership of the said parcel of land at Borteyman/Adjirigarnon was affirmed to belong to the Nungua Stool in 2003 and 2014 in a High Court and Appeal Court rulings which were further affirmed in a Supreme Court decision of December 2020 in a case involving Empire Builders (Plaintiff), Ernesto Taricone(Respondent), Top Kings Enterprise Lmited (Respondent) and the Nungua Stool (Respondent) in the suit titled: Civil Appeal No. J4/10/2019).
Captain Koda and the two others in the writ of summons sighted titled suit No. L/2970/93 in the matter of the Republic Vrs 1. Eugene Sowah Odamtey 2. Captain Edmund Kojo Koda and Hares Muda as respondents in Ex-Parte: Nii Afutu Kotey Gbomosane II, the applicant affirmed in the writ that Captain Koda and the two have trespassed on the land in dispute despite an existing application in court awaiting final determination but the court.
According to the facts of the case on 17th January, 2024, 6 plaintiff Respondents in the original case filed an application for leave to issue Writ of Possession of the disputed land in execution of the Judgement of the court differently constituted and which was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
However, the other parties filed Notice of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the court and further action for stay of execution on the 12th July 2024, all of which actions are awaiting the final determination of the court then Captain Koda and the two allegedly went onto the land to demolish properties on it.
Speaking to the media on the matter, Benjamin Nii Danso, the General Manager for Top Kings and Special Aid to the Nungua Stool claimed that, Top Kings, Nungua Stool and Trasacco(Empire Builders) have been in court for the past 25 years over the entire lands of which the one in contention forms part.
He pointed out that Captain Koda and the other persons are being cited for contempt for being the main actors behind the demolition of properties on the land in dispute to work whilst the issue is in court.
According to him, some of the parties in the dispute filed a writ of possession but they were granted on condition that they provide a judgment plan of the area, and also file the civil form 18 C and 18 D which they failed to comply with and due to that, the order for possession has not been signed for them as again there is a pending appeal and stay of execution motions against the ruling.
Benjamin Nii Danso accused some parties in the dispute aided by Trasacco using political influencers such as Captain Koda and others, to forcibly work and take possession of the land they have not been given possession over.
The land in dispute he mentioned, belongs to the Nungua Stool adding that, those claiming ownership have never taken the Nungua Stool to court but, are in court with the Ashaley Botwe Chief.
The Chief he indicated, is challenging in court that documents in possession with Trasacco are not up to and therefore, cannot claim ownership of the land.
He averred that Ashaley Botwe and Nmai Dzorn are part of Teshie family and have taken themselves to court.
“So if their order is given, they now come to meet the Nungua Stool on the land, which will spark out another litigation. But, because they want to dodge that process, they want to use the back door by using the political influensers”, he claimed.
The Regional Police Command, Nii Danso revealed, last Friday arrested two people on the site at the time work was going but information available to them is that, they have been granted bail to return on Monday.
According to him, the people went back the following day after the arrest to begin work on the site with police protection, leading to a clash and exchange of gun shots
Top Kings he added would not allow anyone to use political influence to cheat them hence, citing Captain Koda and others for contempt.
Benjamin Nii Danso hinted that, the whole issue is between Top Kings and Trasacco Empire Builders saying, Topkings have been in possession but Trasacco want to use political influence to pave their way through.
Military personnel, he indicated have been sent to guide the site and were also bragging that even President Akufo Addo and the IGP are aware of their presence but, they were of the view that it was something they are just saying to secure the site.
Those Military personnel Nii Danso revealed, were not even having their names or ranks attached to the uniforms they are wearing except one person by name Tetteh with no rank.
