Show Of Power: Chief Director Of Ministry Of Defence Evades Court Bailiff

The case, suit number HR/0093/2024, filed in the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court, involves Madam Rebecca Serebour and Nana Amo Yarley as applicants against Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum and the Attorney General as respondents.

Jul 25, 2024 - 06:57 Updated: Jul 25, 2024 - 07:03

Show Of Power: Chief Director Of Ministry Of Defence Evades Court Bailiff

THE Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum

THE Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum, is allegedly avoiding a court bailiff after coercing an Accra-based business woman, Madam Rebecca Serebour, into signing documents that allowed him to unlawfully seize her luxurious house located at Adjiringanor, near Transacco Phase Two Area in Accra.

The case, suit number HR/0093/2024, filed in the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court, involves Madam Rebecca Serebour and Nana Amo Yarley as applicants against Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum and the Attorney General as respondents.

Attempts to serve Dr. Dzikum with a motion
on notice application for the enforcement of fundamental human rights, pursuant to Article 33(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 67 Rules 1 & 2 of C.I 47, have been unsuccessful.

According to an Affidavit of Non-Service by a bailiff, efforts to serve the motion at Dr. Dzikum's office and residence have proved futile.

However, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Mr. Cerphas Banuodio Boyuoh, the lawyer for the applicants, succeeded in securing an order for substituted service, allowing the bailiff to post the notice on Dr. Dzikum's properties.

Madam Rebecca Serebour and Nana Amo Yarley have accused Dr. Dzikum of sanctioning agents, including soldiers, to threaten her life due to her involvement in a land transaction at Trassacco Phase Two in Accra.

The said land was later claimed by elders from Teshie, who asserted ownership.

An affidavit supporting the application details how Madam Rebecca Serebour and her son, Nana Amo Yarley, faced constant attacks and intimidation from Dr. Dzikum and some military men at the office of the Ministry of Defence.

It also mentions the unlawful detention and imprisonment of Madam Rebecca Serebour and her son at the Ministry of Defence, as
well as harassment by six military men at the behest of Dr. Dzikum.

The affidavit further explains that Dr. Dzikum unlawfully seized a C250 Mercedes Benz (registration number CX 8638-22) belonging to Madam Rebecca Serebour.

It highlights Dr. Dzikum's misuse of his position to instill fear, detain, and abuse Madam Rebecca Serebour and her son, forcing her to sign a document relinquishing her house.

Part of the affidavit reads, "Madam Rebecca Serebour and her son, Nana Amo Yarley, were locked up and detained in a small room at the Ministry of Defence with little to no ventilation for over four hours.

The affidavit pointed out that the applicants were not even allowed to use the toilet at the Ministry of Defence when requested.

"Following their four-hour detention, Dr. Dzikum coerced Madam Rebecca Serebour into signing a document entitled "Demand Notice," purportedly from a lawyer named Kwadwo A. Safo ESQ.

The suit against Dr. Dzikum also includes a civil suit seeking a declaration that Madam Rebecca Serebour merely facilitated the sale of a plot of land from a vendor to Dr. Dzikum.

The affidavit asserts that the coercion of Madam Rebecca Serebour into signing a document relinquishing her house to Dr. Dzikum is null and void. It also calls for the immediate return of the seized C250 Mercedes Benz.

The affidavit indicates that the ordeal caused significant distress, psychological trauma, and fear for safety for Madam Rebecca Serebour and Nana Amo Yarley.

The conflict dates back to 2017, when Madam Rebecca Serebour and Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum both sought to purchase land from a vendor at Adjiringanor. Over time, their acquaintance grew into a cordial relationship, and they facilitated several land transactions together.

However, issues arose when Madam Rebecca Serebour facilitated the purchase of a plot of land for Dr. Dzikum, which was later claimed by Teshie elders.

This led to harassment and threats from Dr. Dzikum, demanding that Madam Rebecca Serebour recover the money he paid for the land.

The affidavit asserted that the harassment and threats from Dr. Dzikum have caused sleepless nights for Madam Rebecca Serebour, leading to this legal action.

Brief back ground of the case.

The story goes that sometime in 2017,Madam Rebecca Serebour met the 1st respondent, Dr Evans Agbeme Dzikum at Adjiringanor where the both sought to purchase lands from a vendor who had six plots of land for sale.

In this regard, the affidavit indicated that the 1st applicant, Madam Rebecca Serebour purchased the two plots while Dr Dzikum also acquired two plots of land.

During the sale of the land in question, the affidavit asserted that both Madam Rebecca Serebour and Dr Dzikum struck an acquaintance which continued and grew into a condial relationship.

According to the affidavit, after a few years, Madam Rebecca Serebour was faced with some financial difficulties necessited her to sell her two plots of lands which she has earlier acquired at Adjiringanor in Accra.

The affidavit noted that Dr Dzikum expressed interest in purchasing the said land in question at an agreed cost of eighty thousand United States Dollars (US$ 80,000.00) for one for ninety thousand United States Dollars (US$ 90,000.00) for the other, totalling one hundred and seventy thousand United States Dollars (US$170,000.00) for the two plots of the lands.

The affidavit indicated that the sale was successful as Madam Rebecca Serebour exchanged the lands for the amount stated supra from Dr Dzikum.

The affidavit contenteded that the 1st respondent, Dr Dzikum expressed interest in purchasing the remaining two plots of the lands from the vendor.

The affidavit said for some reason, the

vendor refused to sell out the land to the 1st respondent, Dr Dzikum which made him to reach out to Madam Rebecca Serebour who he knew had a better relationship with the vendor to intervene on his (Dzikum) behalf.

According to the affidavit, Madam Rebecca Serebour did intervened and managed to convince the vendor to sell the remaining two plots to Dr Dzikum. The purchase price was one hundred and eighty United States Dollars (180,000) for the two plots and Madam Rebecca Serebour facilitated the sell from the vendor to Dr Dzikum.

"All the receipts and documentation were made in the name of Dr Dzikum, adding that the relationship between Madam Rebecca Serebour and Dzikum developed so rapidly and the trust between the two equally increased as much," the affidavit stated.

The affidavit said that Dr Dzikum found yet another one (1) plot of land behind the house of Madam Rebecca Serebour at Adriginganor near Trasacco phase two and expressed interest to purchase that land as well.

The affidavit noted that Dr Dzikum reached out to Madam Rebecca Serebour for assistance to purchase the one plot of land since she was physically closer to the new vendor and also by the dint of the relationship that had come through exist between Madam Rebecca Serebour and Dr Dzikum.

Following this development, the affidavit indicated that Madam Rebecca Serebour net the vendor on behalf of Dr Dzikum and facilitated the sale processes for the one plot of land which the vendor this time demanded for one hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars (US$150,000.00) .

According to the affidavit, the 1st respondent, Dr Dzikum brought the whole one hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars (US$150,000.00) in cash to Madam Rebecca Serebour private house in the presence of Madam Rebecca Serebour's husband and requested that she pays the vendor for the land on his (Dzikum) behalf.

"That Madam Rebecca Serebour did exactly that and handed over all the necessary documents pertaining to the land in question purchased to Dr Dzikum after the payment to the vendor. The 1st respondent, Dr Dzikum later took possession of the said land, placed chippings and sand on the land and readied to commence construction of the building on the land," the affidavit explained.

The affidavit stated that approximately five months, after purchase of the one plot of land, Madam Rebecca Serebour learned that land guards had entered into the land in question.

"That on that same morning, Madam Rebecca Serebour realized that notices had been posted in the building structures all around the area including Madam Rebecca Serebour's private own house property indicating that a court judgement had been awarded regarding new ownership of the lands which included the land that Madam Rebecca Serebour building sat on and that one plot of land Dr Dzikum had acquired through Madam Rebecca Serebour," the affidavit further explained.

The affidavit said that upon Dr Dzikum hearing of the news, he immediately demanded that Madam Rebecca Serebour takes step to recover the money he has paid for the purchasing of one plot of land and he began harassing Madam Rebecca Serebour for it.

Stay tuned for more details.