A dramatic turn of events unfolded at the High Court (General Jurisdiction 9) in Accra on Monday when a suspect in a protracted land dispute attempted to flee upon seeing a key witness.
The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Ebo Abraham, also known as “Bobo,” was swiftly apprehended by police officers present in the courtroom.
The case, which has been ongoing for a decade, involves Mr. Eddie, CEO of Erata Company Limited (Erata Motors), who claims he legally acquired the disputed land in 2011 after due diligence with the Lands Commission.
However, his ownership was challenged in 2014, leading to a lengthy legal battle against multiple individuals, including Mr. Kwadwo Agyeman, CEO of Paytell Company, Mr. Emmanuel Ebo Abraham, and Mr. Kwabena Nketia.
Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has been representing the opposing parties in court.
Mr. Abraham had been attending court hearings under the authority of a purported Power of Attorney, allegedly granted by Ex-Warrant Officer 1 (Ex-WO1) Samuel Kojo Quartey, who was believed to be the original owner of the land.
However, recent investigations led authorities to locate Mr. Quartey in Agona Swedru, where he has been residing peacefully since retiring in 2014.
Upon questioning by the police, Mr. Quartey firmly denied any involvement in the case, stating that he had never owned property in Accra, granted Power of Attorney, or authorized anyone to act on his behalf regarding the disputed land.
Following this revelation, Mr. Quartey was invited to testify in court. As he entered the courtroom today, Mr. Abraham reportedly attempted to escape but was immediately intercepted and arrested by law enforcement officers.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr. Eddie expressed relief and optimism, believing that the new evidence would bring him closer to reclaiming his land.
“I have spent so much money on this land, and for years, I have been battling in court. Now that the truth is coming out, I am hopeful I will finally get my land back,” he stated, expressing gratitude to his legal counsel, Dr. Sylvester Nyamekye, Esq., for his diligence and dedication throughout the case.
The case is scheduled to continue on Wednesday, with authorities expected to conduct further investigations into the alleged fraudulent land acquisition.
