Nii Markwei Marmah, John Martey Marmah, Adam Nii Akwei Oklemckuku and Eric Laryea Larbi have been remanded for deliberately failing to follow the right procedure to destool a Chief.
They were charged before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, last Friday.
Nii Markwei Marmah and the three others pleaded not guilty to the charge and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Reading the facts of the case to the court, Superintendent Augustine Yirenkyi said the complainant, Humphery Nii Boye Mantey, and his witnesses were elders of Gbugblah Quarters of Teshie.
He added that the accused persons – Nii Markwet Marmah Ben, John Martey Marmah and Adam Nii Akwei Oklemckuku – were members of the Ataa Nii We of Gbugblah Quarters.
The court was told that on April 15, 2023, the complainant had information that the accused persons had performed rituals intended to install one Laryea Larbi as the “Atofotse”, when there was already an existing one by name Nii Laryea Odonkor II.
Meanwhile, the said rituals were performed without destooling the current “Atofotse” at a time the accused persons were aware that Nii Martey Odonkor III, who is domiciled in the United Kingdom, had been gazette, and in his absence Stephen Martey Laryea had been acting as “Atofotse”.
The prosecutor added that the accused persons were invited by the police and admitted having nominated one Laryea Larbi and confined him to undergo the necessary customary rites for his ordination as the “Atofotse.”
The accused persons, however, failed to produce any evidence as to having rightfully destooled the current “Atofotse,” hence, being charged with the offences.
