Chiefs grabbed with gun in court

A TEAM of police personnel led by the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, ACP Patrick Sarpong, yesterday averted what could have been a bloody incident at the Sunyani High Court as respondents in the Wenchi Chieftaincy dispute who have been cited for contempt of court stormed the courtroom with a pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunitions and a dagger.

The police numbering about 20, acting upon a tip-off, stormed the court and with the permission of the presiding Judge, Justice Ofosu Quartey and ordered that nobody leaves the court.

The police officers then subjected everybody in the packed courtroom including journalists and student lawyers to thorough body checks. Lawyers were, however, spared.

In the course of the search, a dagger was found on the second respondent, Nana Krabiri Kwakorakwa Yentumi II, Adontehene of Wenchi Traditional Area as well as a pistol loaded with 10 ammunitions on one Kwabena Awuah, 23, an aide to the disputed newly installed Wenchi Paramount Chief, Nana Anye Amoampong Tabrako I, known in private life as Professor Albert Owusu Sarpong.

The two suspects, at the time of filing this report, were in the custody of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command helping in police investigations.

The visibly shocked judge who expressed disappointment in the outcome of the search wondered why weapons should be brought to the court by the respondents.

Justice Ofosu Quartey therefore ordered that the 1st, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively, namely Nana Atoaa Sraman Gyeduaa III, Wenchi queenmother, disputed Omanhene Anye Amoampong Tabrako and Nana Aduse Poku, gyaasehene of Wenchi Traditional Area be arrested and kept in police custody as a result of the incident.

However, upon several pleas by counsel, the Judge rescinded his decision.

The queenmother, disputed omanhene and the gyaasehene signed a bond of good behaviour, while the court barred followers of both parties from attending court proceedings.

The presiding judge also charged the respondents to ensure that there is absolute peace in Wenchi else the court would not take it lightly with them.

He indicated further that in the interest of justice and the security of his staff and all litigants in court, he would ensure that the matter pending before the court was expeditiously dealt with.

The Wenchi Queenmother and three others including the new omanhene have been summoned before the Sunyani High Court One for contempt.

They are purported to have defied a pending suit at the court seeking to restrain them from going ahead to nominate and install a new Wenchi Paramount Chief.

Nana Owusu-Ansah Kokroko II, the Wenchi krontihene, who filed the motion on notice for committal for contempt, is praying the court to punish the respondents for acting in contempt of the court.