"Afghanistan" Sues Chronicle

Nii Noi Morton, a.k.a Afghanistan, Blow, who is being sought for by the police for his alleged diabolic activities in the Kasoa area, has filed a writ at an Accra Fast Track High Court against The Chronicle.

?Afghanistan? is claiming ?100 million in damages for libel.

According to him the paper had libeled and defamed him by publishing a story that linked him with people whose names popped up in police investigations about the burning to death of a Tetteh Dodoo in September last year.

In his statement of claim filed on his behalf by the legal firm P.P. Kuenyehia & Co., Blow is also seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the paper from publishing any further libelous material about him.

The statement said by the paper?s publication on January 15, 2003, headlined ?Horror! How landguards tortured, burnt man in room, Notorious Kasoa Scorpion in police dragnet,?

The Chronicle meant to portray the plaintiff as a murderer, hooligan, landguard and an outlaw who was not fit to be in society and should be kept away from society.

It said plaintiff was a law-abiding genuine businessman and a peace-loving person with very high moral integrity who had great respect for humanity and for that matter could not commit any heinous act.

Plaintiff said until the said publication, he was a well-respected person, held in high esteem by his business partners, friends and family members and enjoyed a very high reputation among them.

But he had been put to ridicule and scorn before his business partners, his friends and family members everywhere since the publication.

In a statement of defence The Chronicle said it had a video recording that captured the plaintiff and his cohorts during some of their operations terrorizing people over lands they had legally acquired.

The paper said it was aware that the Odorkor police was investigating the plaintiff over the death of Dodoo.

?There is a criminal case against the plaintiff at the Adjabeng Tribunal for threatening to kill the head pastor of the Living Testimony of Jesus Ministry, Pastor Joseph Banning, over a piece of land the church had acquired,? The Chronicle stated in its statement of defence.

Also the records of the Odorkor police showed that plaintiff and his friend Scorpion had been identified as persons who invaded the land belonging to Israel Gbedevi at Amanfrom near Kasoa in 2000.

In 2001, they threatened the life of Gbedevi when he decided to develop the land after they had gone to the site and destroyed building blocks.

The statement said the police arrested the plaintiff and Scorpion at the Kasoa police barrier following a report made by Gbedevi but he managed to escape from police custody.

The Chronicle is represented by Tay, Odjidja & Co.