Anlo elders convicted for contempt of Judicial Committee

Ho, Nov 26, GNA- A Ho High Court presided over by Mr Justice Richard Apaloo on Wednesday found five persons guilty of contempt of the Judicial Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs for outdooring Amega Patrick Agboba as the new Awoamefia of Anlo under the stool name Togbi Sri III.

Anyigblanua Eha II, Togbi Honi II, chief of Klikor, Togbi Addo VIII, Fiaga of Klikor, Amega Dotse Gaga Dosu Agboada and Amega Patrick Agboba were fined one million cedis each or go to prison for one month each.

The court awarded 300,000 cedis cost against each of them and bonded them to be of good behaviour for 12 months or serve one month imprisonment.

Amega Kofi Togobo, Lieutenant-Colonel Courage Togobo (RTD), Amega C.N.K. Kwawukume and Amega Seth Kwawukume brought the application for contempt. Mr Justice Richard Apaloo told the accused persons that he was sorry that the lot had fallen on him of all "judges in this country to do this to my elders of Anlo but that is the law."

He said as a Judge he believes in law and order, otherwise it will be a battle of the fittest and "the weak among us will not have peace to live."

Mr Justice Apaloo said the frustrations arising out of the dispute and the perceived delay in disposing of the matter notwithstanding, the respondents ought to allow the law to take its course.

He said the respondents were in contempt of the Judicial Committee of the Volta Region House of Chiefs when they out-doored Amega Agboba as the new Awoamefia when his qualification, nomination, election and installation were in dispute.

He said his ruling did not affect the merits of the case before the judicial committee.