Nat’l Tymes News Desk
THE WEST Africa Chairman of the World Human Rights Association and Chief of Oblieman (Dodoo Near Opah), Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka, has petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the General Legal Council and the Inspector-General of Police, demanding investigations into what he describes as a serious abuse of court process, unlawful execution of a substituted service order, intimidation of residents and the desecration of the Oblieman Palace.
The petition, dated July 6, 2026, alleges that some court bailiffs, legal practitioners and Nii Addey Tackie Oblie acted outside the authority of the court by pasting substituted service notices on buildings and public facilities that were not covered by the court’s order.
According to the petition, the dispute is linked to a separate legal action involving Ibrahim Adu Tackie Oblie and Emmanuel Nii Dodoo (substituted by Eric Dodoo) and 48 others. Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka I explained that although the court granted substituted service, the order expressly directed that the notices be pasted only on buildings belonging to the 48 persons named in the suit.
He maintained that neither he, the Oblieman Palace nor the elders of the community were parties to the case. Despite this, he alleged that court notices were pasted on properties belonging to persons whose names do not appear in the substituted service order.
The petition identifies the alleged posting of court documents on the Oblieman Palace as one of the most disturbing aspects of the exercise. The Chief described the act as unlawful, disrespectful and an attack on the customs, traditions and chieftaincy institution of Oblieman.
“The Oblieman Palace is not a party to the suit or the court proceedings. Pasting court documents on the palace is not only unlawful but also a desecration of a revered traditional institution,” the petition quoted the Chief as saying.
The petition further alleges that the court bailiffs were accompanied by masked and armed men during the exercise, creating fear and panic among residents.
According to the Chief, the armed presence intimidated community members and discouraged anyone from questioning the execution of the court order.
Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka I further contended that the substituted service order specifically directed that the notices be pasted on buildings located at Sapeiman and Pobiman, and not within the Oblieman community. He stressed that Oblieman, also known as Dodoo Near Opah, is a separate locality, making the alleged execution of the order there unjustifiable.
The petition also refers to Suit No. LD/0881/2017, Nana Yaw Boakye v. Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka, which the Chief said affirmed that the persons involved had no legal authority over the disputed lands. He further disclosed that the Abola Piam Royal Council has filed a fresh action, Suit No. EI/AHC/228/2025, seeking to restrain what it describes as the continued unlawful activities.
The petition accuses the respondents of contempt of court, abuse of legal process, professional misconduct, criminal intimidation, harassment of innocent property owners and disregard for existing court judgments.
“The law is sacred, just as our traditional institutions are sacred. No individual or group should use court papers and armed men to terrorise an entire community,” the petition further quoted the Chief.
The Abola Piam Royal Council is therefore urging the Attorney-General to investigate the allegations and prosecute any person found to have abused the court process.
It is also calling on the Inspector-General of Police to halt the alleged unlawful posting of court documents in the community, withdraw the armed personnel from the area and provide adequate security for the Oblieman Palace and affected residents.
The petition also asks the General Legal Council to investigate any lawyer found to have participated in or facilitated the alleged abuse of the legal process and, where necessary, apply the appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
In addition, the Council has appealed to the Attorney-General to advise the courts on the alleged contemptuous conduct, safeguard traditional institutions from similar incidents and take judicial notice of the pending Suit No. EI/AHC/228/2025.
The petitioners have given the Attorney-General’s Office, the General Legal Council and the Ghana Police Service 14 days to respond, outlining the actions taken on the concerns raised.
Supporting the petition are certified copies of judgments in Suit Nos. IRL 234/09 and LD/0881/2017, the substituted service order, a copy of the writ in Suit No. EI/AHC/228/2025, together with photographs and video recordings, including images allegedly showing the posting of court documents on the Oblieman Palace.
Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka I expressed confidence that the relevant state institutions would give the matter urgent attention, conduct a thorough investigation and take the necessary steps to uphold the rule of law, protect traditional institutions and ensure that justice is served.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
