The Greater Accra Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has submitted its diary of action detailing an incident involving former National Service Person (NSS) Deborah Seyram Adablah, who allegedly assaulted police officers.
Additionally, the Regional Police CID submitted entries from the station diary of the officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) who were executing a court order to preserve a vehicle involved in a dispute.
Detective Sergeant Thompson Ayitey, an Investigator with the Greater Accra Regional CID, testified in court as a Subpoenaed Witness (Court Witness) from the lawyers of Deborah Seyram Adablah. He stated that Adablah obstructed police officers from performing their duties and assaulted them.
“I did not commence the execution order,” Detective Sergeant Ayitey told the High Court in Accra, adding that, “rather I was the night investigator on the said date when the Regional Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) arrested and brought Deborah Seyram Adablah for obstructing the police officers from executing the order and also assaulting the police officers.”
Deborah Adablah’s lawsuit for sexual harassment against banker Ernest Kwasi Nimako was dismissed for lack of a reasonable cause of action. However, she is now facing a contempt charge filed by Mr. Nimako.
Ms. Adablah and her legal team have filed an application seeking to set aside the service and execution of the prohibition order filed on June 15, 2023.
During a court session on Monday, March 25, 2024, the Court subpoenaed a witness after three documents, including the case docket on Adablah, were tendered in and subjected to cross-examination.
Lawyer Mohammed Atta, representing Adablah, cross-examined the investigator (witness) and sought to clarify if the witness was the officer who initiated the execution of the preservation order exhibited on May 19, 2023.
After responding in the negative, that, “I did not commence the execution order,” he explained that, “rather I was the night investigator on the said date when the Regional CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) arrested and brought Deborah S Adablah for obstructing the police officers from executing the order and also assault on the police officers.”
During the court proceedings, the witness (investigator) stated that he did not initiate action in the Diary of Action.
When asked if there were records in the Police Station Diary, the witness responded, “I have in the station diary what transpired when the court bailiff and the police went to execute the court order.”
Counsel for Adablah argued that according to police standing orders if an order to work is given, the officer tasked should start making entries from the beginning to the end.
The investigator agreed with Adablah’s counsel, explaining that, “in this case, this order was not directed to me; rather, it was addressed through our legal department to the Regional Commander, who then sent it to the CTU commander for necessary action.”
The investigator clarified that the evidence he presented in court was after the execution order was carried out.
He added; “I’m not aware when this order came to the Regional Commander.”
When Counsel suggested to him that, he had brought the wrong documents to the court, the witness said, “My lord, I tendered what I have or known about.”
He stated that the officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit worked on the execution order from start to finish.
However, he informed the Court that he would not be able to answer questions for the Counter Terrorism Unit unless the officers themselves were present.
In response, Counsel for Adablah requested that, in the interest of justice, the appropriate officers be subpoenaed to answer questions.
Presiding Judge Justice John Bosco Nabarese ruled that Counsel for the plaintiff must ensure that the latest subpoena is served on the Regional Counter Terrorism Unit, who are reported to have executed the order of preservation, to appear on May 7 for further cross-examination.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Banker Ernest Kwasi Nimako have filed an application for a summary judgment.
The case has been adjourned to May 7, 2024.