By Feima Sesay
Joseph Kobba , a tribal head of Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom has on Thursday 30th January 2024 testified before Justice Alfred Tommy Ganda in the High Court presiding over the ongoing petition case against the purported election of Alfred Sovula and two others .
This is a civil matter of section 13 of the Chieftaincy Act 2009 and the petition of the result of the purported election of Alfred Sovula Gbandoma as Paramount Chief of Bumpe Gao chiefdom , Bo district , between the petitioner Sakpa Jibao Gbekpa and ECSL as first respondent, the Provincial Secretary as second respondent and Alfred Sovula as third respondent.
The first witness Joseph Kobba for the petitioner told the Court that he is a tribal head and a farmer also resident in Bumpe Gao Chiefdom.
Led in further evidence by lawyer BJ Reffle , he explained that he is also an elder and a tribal authority of the said Chiefdom, adding that he made a witness statement to his lawyer.
The witness statement dated 21st January 2025 was shown to him which he identified and thereafter the lawyer applied for it to form part of the case pursuant to order 30 sub rule 1A.
The witness in further evidence said he knows the petitioner Moses Sakpa Gbekpa as grand Son to their late Paramount Chief Francis Kposowa, adding that he came to know the 3rd defendant Sovula on the day for their deceleration .
According to him , he had knowledge of the petition and that on the day of the declaration, the 3rd defendant told them that he is also from a ruling house but was objected to by himself and one Madam Irene Labor who also confirmed same that he is not from a ruling family.
The objection , he said , was made to the SDO, the provincial secretary, senior clerk, local government and others.
Lawyer Cummings representing ECSL who is the 1st defendant objected to this bit of evidence stating that some of what he was saying now are not part of his statement, adding that his lawyer should seek leave of the Court as per the rules.
The Plaintiff applicant , lawyer Reffle in reply submitted that the word “ several ‘ would covered the name Irine, and in the circumstance applied as per the rules that several other issues not specifically mention in the witness statement including other names that the court granted them leaved to callvnames that are not stated in the witness statement which includes names from the respondents .
His application was granted by the learned Judge.
Mr Kobba in continuation of the evidence said he also objected on the basis that the name Gbandoma was never from a ruling house in Bumpe Gao, adding that after their objection , the SDO he said , told them to standown for 15 minutes which he said they agreed to and waited.
The purpose of the stand down was base on their objection that Alfred Sovula is not from a ruling house
According to the witness, when he was born in 1957, Francis Kposowa was the paramount chief, nothing that the first Paramount chief of Bumpe Gao Chiefdom was Madam Monowa, thereafter , Madam Boi Nessie, Paramount chief Gbekpa, Kobba Jengo, Francis Kposowa, Borbor Kpaka and JC Kposowa.
He addded that Gbandomas were never Paramount Chief , and that after the 15 minutes standown, the decision was not put into a vote.
During cross examination of the witness by lawyer Cummings , the witness was asked whether his name was on the gazette, the witness said his name was there.
When the witness was asked whether Irine Labor was a tribal head, the witness in reply said she was a tax payer but could not tell whether her name was on the Gazette.
Lawyer Saccoh , Lawyer for the 3rd defendant Alfred Sovula Gandoma during cross examination of the witness, said he was present during the declaration of right meeting which took place in a Court Barry.
The witness in further evidence said it was Irine Labor that first objected to the declaration of right of Alfred Sovula and that there was a revision of the Gazette list.
The witness also revealed that the gazette is reviewed after every three years and that during the declaration, 3 assessor chiefs were present.
Lawyer Saccoh further confronted the witness that he told the Court that he had never seen a Gbandoma Chief , the witness replied in the affirmative.
When asked whether he knew one Anthony Gbandoma, the witness said yes.
In further cross examination of the witness by lawyer Alie on behalf of the second respondents , the Provincial Secretary, he asked the witness how do they determine a Paramount chief, the witness in reply said ‘you have to come from a ruling house”.
When asked as to how many elections have been conducted in the Bumpe Gao Chiefdom since he was born in 1957, the witness said , 3, adding that in 1973, the Kposowa, Kpaka, Kobba and others contested.
The witness further confirmed that after the declaration of right , the box would be given to the candidate.
In reexamination of the witness by lawyer BJ Reffle , the witness also confirmed that the Gandoma’s were never from a ruling house.
Lawyer Reffle , informed the Court that on the next adjourned date he has a video that he wants to tender. The matter was adjourned to Monday 3rd February 2025 for further hearing.
