The High Court in Accra, has directed lawyers for the Secretary to the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees with multiple identities to properly serve North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the contempt proceedings against the legislator.
The Kumasi-born pastor, is sometimes called Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and other times, he is known as Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
His passports bear the name; Kwabena Adu Gyamfi with December 30, 1969, stated as his birthday, but his drivers’ license carries Boateng Victor Kusi, with September 7, 1971, as his date of birth.
Pastor Kwabena Adu Gyamfi alias Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has two biological mothers too. According to records from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), his mother’s name is Agnes Attah, if he is addressed by the name Victor Kusi Boateng, but when addressing him as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi , his mother’s name is Yaa Gyamfua.
From these multiple names, he has acquired two Tax Indication Number (TIN) from the GRA. As Victor, he has P0002502682 as TIN issued on August 13, 2013, whilst as Adu Gyamfi, he has P000627241X as his TIN issued on March 15, 2016.
Lawyers for the plaintiff, filed a contempt application against the MP after he was caught on video kicking an interim injunction obtained in connection with a defamation suit filed against him.
However, the court noted Tuesday that the MP had not been properly served regarding the contempt application as required by law.
As a result, it directed Rev. Kusi’s lawyers to file the necessary processes with the Speaker of Parliament.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, one of the lawyers for Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that the judge’s position indicates that the contempt application has been rejected.
Meanwhile, some party executives and lawmakers who accompanied Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to court have pledged their support for him.
“This is to indicate that, the NDC as a party is fully behind our comrade. The party is not dithered at all. There is nothing the forces can do to discourage him. The cause he is fighting is a cause of truth and transparency, the party stands fully behind him”, NDC General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey said.
Mr Ablakwa has mounted a spirited campaign against Rev. Kusi Boateng, whom he accused of having double identity.
Rev. Kusi Boateng has been accused of conflict of interest following some monies he received from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees under a different name.
He, however, secured a ten-day injunction barring the North Tongu lawmaker from making further “disclosures of private documents, correspondence, communication and property belonging to the applicant” on February 3.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had told an Accra High Court that he was recently served court papers by a fake bailiff.
The papers in question were a restraining order and a defamation suit by Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, alias Victor Kusi Boateng.
Ablakwa’s allegations were contained in an 85-page document opposing a contempt suit Adu Gyamfi brought against the lawmaker for rejecting service of the two suits and disrespecting the court by kicking the documents.
Ablakwa’s lawyers, Sory @ Law, attached an exhibit that contained an Application for Search Report seeking information on the bailiff who served Ablakwa the papers earlier this month.
The court registry confirmed that Adu Gyamfi, had indeed instituted the two applications served on Ablakwa on 1st and 3rd of February.
It gave the name of the bailiff who served the application on Ablakwa as Ellis Armah but answered “NO” to a question about whether Ellis was a bailiff of the Judicial Service.
There was no further explanation as to why a bailiff outside of the Judicial Service had been given papers to serve on the respondent.
Ablakwa’s lawyers, also referred to a recent order by the Chief Justice asking that only certified bailiffs be dispatched to work on service of applications.
