IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC vs. NICHOLAS KOFI NEGBLE AND 4 OTHERS; EX PARTE MAMA SOTORGBE AVLEGEDE AND 5 OTHERS [2018]DLHC4065

IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC vs. NICHOLAS KOFI NEGBLE AND 4 OTHERS; EX PARTE MA... [2018]DLHC4065

Date	2018-06-12
Suit No.	SUIT NO. E10/6/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC4065

(SGD) N. C. A. AGBEVOR JUSTICE OF THE APPEAL COURT

MR. KOFITSE

MR. GAEWU.

[2018]DLHC4065
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >IN THE MATTER OF THE
REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>NICHOLAS KOFI NEGBLE AND
4 OTHERS; EX PARTE MAMA SOTORGBE AVLEGEDE AND 5 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, HO]<o:p></o:p>SUIT
NO.
E10/6/2018&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12TH JUNE, 2018<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
KOFITSE <o:p></o:p>MR.
GAEWU. <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>(SGD)
N. C. A. AGBEVOR JUSTICE OF THE APPEAL
COURT
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>The
Applicants in this case are seeking for an order of this Court to commit the
Respondents for contempt. In their affidavit in support of their application,
they claim they are principal members of the Avlegede Royal Family of
Tetemale in the Akatsi South District. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Applicants
claim the 1st Respondent, a native of Tetemale has arrogated to himself the
powers of Zikpuitor, Fiator and Regent of Tetemale whilst the 2nd Respondent a
native of Alorkpa was customarily “detained to be outdoored after 7 days and
installed as a chief”. It is their claim that the 3rd Respondent is from Goni
Korfe near Akatsi and an “accomplice and associate of the Respondents, the 4th
Respondent is an Okyeame of Tetemale while the 5th Respondent is the queen
mother of Tetemale. It is the Applicants case that when they got wind of the
forthcoming installation of a new chief they consulted a lawyer who advised
them to petition the Anlo Traditional Council which they did. See “Exhibit GD1”
attached
to this application which was duly served on all Respondents. The Registrar of
the Traditional Council then issued an injunction and served on the Respondents
restraining them from the installation of a chief in Tetemale. <o:p></o:p>On
the 24th December, 2017, Respondents imposed a curfew on the Tetemale town
stating in a gong gong that they were going to perform a customary rite of a
chief leading to an installation. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On
the 26th December, 2017 the Applicants allege that in a contumacious defiance
of the petition and the injunction (Exhibit GD2) the Respondents went ahead to
commence the 7 days customary detention of 2nd Respondent pending installation
as a chief. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Upon
complaints to the Traditional Council and the Akatsi police, per Exhibit “GD3”
the Akatsi police indicated that they had granted the police protection for the
installation of the new chief. Despite warnings and protests the Respondents
have all participated in the installation and outdooring of the new chief. It
is therefore the Applicants case that the Respondents have willfully brought
the administration of justice by their conduct into disrepute and ought to be
punished for contempt. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In
an affidavit in opposition Nicholas Kofi Negble the head of the Negble f</main>