Some police personnel led by one police officer, ASP Malaika-Jabril Alhassan, from the CID-Operations, have reportedly raided a parcel of land at East Legon near the Islamic University and pulled down properties to the tune of US$2.8 million Dollars, even when there is a pending suit in Court over the said land.
The said Policeman, ASP Malaika-Jabril Alhassan, when queried by one of the top police commanders, claimed he had the order for the demolition from the IGP’s office but refused to mention the name of the very police commander who gave that order.
Interestingly, this paper has gathered that a Stay of Execution was filed on December 5, 2023 and billed to be heard on May 17, 2024 at the Adentan High Court, but ASP Malaika-Jabril Alhassan and his men acting on orders from the IGP’s office ignored the Application filed and carried out the said demolition.
The policemen stormed the area amid fully armed, in the company of some land guards intimidating and threatening people on the land whilst the carry out their unlawful demolition.
The said landed property according to information, belongs to Madam Joyce Bafoe Bonne Boakye who sold the land to Nana Mawerehene of Aburi in 2000.
He has had possession over the said land with no dispute or so ever.
It has been established that Nana Mawerehene of Aburi started developing the land in the year 2010 where he began to build a 6 units bedroom house on the land and later in 2018 began the building of a shop complex.
However, in 2019 when Nana approached the Lands Commission to register the land where he realized there was a new judgement in favor of Akrowboye Doku Family (a new family.)
He then went ahead to look for the family and atoned tenancy, regularizing with the family., all his documents, thinking everything was fine and over.
Meanwhile, sometime in 2023 a group of armed police officers came on the land claiming there was a court judgment and possession had been granted to a third party; Asada, who had also transferred their interest or sold the Land to Trestone Empire Ltd.
However, upon review the court possession documents it was realized that Trestone Empire Ltd had gone to sue madam Joyce B.B Boakye who had died in 2010.
The said court case started in 2022 over 12 years after the passing of Joyce B.B Boakye and since she could not enter appearance (because she was dead) a default judgement was then given by Justice Awuah.
It also emerged that the land owners, Plaintiff, Joseph Aggrey hence approached their lawyers to help set aside the judgement but the Adentan High Court Presided by Her Lordship Mariama Sammo said they couldn’t enter the case as interested parties since they were never part of the suit.
They then filed an injunction which was never granted. Tedstone Enterprise ltd., led by one Dr. Dawson brought a group of land guards, and an excavator claiming they were going to demolish the property.
They were able to take the roof off the entire building and since, have been using intimidation from both the police and land guards trying to take possession on the land.
The Plaintiff, Joseph Aggrey filed another injunction on the land.
Meanwhile, the Defendant say they have a judgment dated 20/02/23 against one Joyce Boakye and are seeking to enforce same against the Plaintiff, Mr Aggrey.
Mr Aggrey’s case is that, the property at east Legon does not belong to Joyce Boakye. Joyce Boakye died in 2010, hence Tredstone (the defendant) could therefore not have issued a writ against her and secured a valid judgment in law. The injunction is for the court to maintain the status quo while Mr Aggrey proves that the land is indeed his and does not belong to the defendants.
The Defendant’s lawyer, Mr Jerry John Asiedu knowing very well that this injunction was pending and knowing that the judgment he had was not against Mr Aggrey somehow got the police to assist him to carry out unlawful demolishing exercise on Friday morning.
It came a surprised to many living in the area, to see a group of policemen storming the land with weapons; in the company of land guards, with excavators to demolish properties on the land.
Checks by this paper revealed that the unlawful demolition which was carried out without any Court Order was led by one Malaika who was adamant to any other explanations from other parties regarding the developments around the land and instructed his men to pull down the buildings, and walls.
Although he failed to mention on whose orders he was leading a team of police-turned land guards onto the land, our checks revealed that his order was from a police commander in the office of the IGP.
It has become evident that, situation on grounds in the area is not so conducive and could escalate tension amid bloody clash if the IGP whose name is being carried along as a superior authority over the Ghana Police Service, fails to act and bring peace.
Stay tuned