The High Court in Accra has sentenced Deborah Seyram Adablah, the former National Service personnel who once made headlines for suing her alleged “sugar daddy,” to 45 days in prison for contempt of court.
Adablah was found guilty of scandalizing the court through a series of videos she posted on social media, in which she launched personal attacks on the judiciary and the presiding judge, Justice John Bosco Nabarese.
The contempt case stems from a 2023 lawsuit in which Adablah accused her former lover of breach of promise. A key item in the case was a Honda Civic vehicle, which the court ordered to be impounded pending final judgment. Adablah, however, resisted the enforcement of that order, confronting court bailiffs and insisting that the seizure was premature.
Ultimately, the court dismissed her suit, ruling that although the relationship between the parties was morally questionable, it did not constitute grounds for legal action.
Following the verdict, Adablah released two videos on social media in which she accused the court of bias and malice. In one video, she directly attacked Justice Nabarese, warning him to “be ready to dance to this drum you are beating,” and criticized the judiciary as being “full of spirits.” She went as far as claiming that public servants were “chopping salaries from my menstruation.”
The court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after the first video surfaced. In response, Adablah posted yet another video, stating her intention to surrender but also ridiculing the court’s authority and declaring that the contempt case was “dead on arrival.”
On Tuesday, May 6, the court convicted her of contempt and sentenced her to 45 days in Nsawam Prison. Moments after the judgment, Adablah went live again on social media, filming her interaction with a court security officer who was preparing her for incarceration.
Background
In January 2023, Deborah Seyram Adablah, a young woman who had just completed her national service, sued a Chief Finance Officer of a bank claiming sexual harassment and breach of promise.
She said the man was her “sugar daddy” and had reneged on a promise to financially take care of her, hence the court suit.
The court case detailed Deborah Seyram Adablah’s claims against her sugar daddy for alleged financial and other benefits promised during their relationship, ultimately leading to a court ruling against her.
The case was thrown out of court after the court ruled that the relationship was based on an immoral and illegal act.
Deborah Seyram Adablah accused the “sugar daddy” of failing to fulfill promises made during their relationship, including lump sum working capital, rent payment for 3 years, a car, monthly allowances, a ring, and financial support for medical bills and family planning.
The court dismissed the case, stating that the relationship was based on an immoral and illegal act, specifically fornication for financial gain.
The court found that no cause of action could arise from an immoral act.
The court ruled against Deborah Seyram Adablah, awarding costs and ordering her to return the disputed vehicle. The court also removed the bank’s name from the suit and slapped her with GH¢6,000 in costs.
The case saw multiple court hearings, including a period where the court directed both parties to file written submissions. There was also a period where the court was yet to deal with the substantive matter.
In the ruling on November 28, 2023, the Court explained that “The accommodation or the rent for 2 years for the respondent, the purchase of a car for the Respondent, to pay the respondent a monthly allowance and other things that were allegedly promised the Respondent, were done for the purpose of enabling her to receive the visits of the Applicant whose mistress she was and to commit fornication with him.
