Two Police officials cited for contempt

Lawyers for Mrs Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda, the dismissed police officer, on Wednesday amended an application she brought before the Human Rights Court seeking to enforce her human rights and an interim injunction against the Inspector General of Police over her dismissal.

The plaintiff also cited two officials of the Police Administration for contempt of court for flouting the court’s orders by dismissing her while the case was pending in court.

The officials who had been cited for contempt are Commissioner of Police Rose Bio Atinga and Chief Inspector Nantongma Yakubu Aggrey.

In the main application Mrs Tehoda contends that her rights had been violated following her interdiction and subsequent dismissal.

According to her, while the two actions were before the Human Rights Court, the Ghana Police Service served her with a dismissal letter thereby affecting the main action in court.

Mr E.A Vedoagu, Counsel for Tehoda, said her client had filed a writ of summons seeking a number of reliefs from the court. He said the detention of Mrs Tehoda at the BNI and subsequent dismissal was unlawful and against her fundamental human rights.

He said the allegation against her by the prosecution during the trial that she was the one who swapped the cocaine was wrong and with malicious intent.

He said her client is also challenging that the Service Enquiry setup by the Police Service was illegal and a violation of the plaintiff’s human rights. Mr. Vedoagu, said they are also seeking for compensation from the state for her wrongful dismissal from the service.

On September 4, the Human Rights Court in Accra rejected the application for reinstatement of Mrs Tehoda into the Police Service on procedural grounds.

DSP Tehoda was discharged three months ago for lack of evidence in the cocaine-turned-baking soda case. Prior to her discharge, the Police Service had interdicted her, stripping her of her position as the Deputy Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID).