Accra High court issues Order For Substituted Service to be served in the media to create awareness of the court proceedings against him
In May 2020, the founder and general overseer of In Him Is Life Church International, Reverend Isaac Opoku popularly known as Obotuo commenced court action against certain individuals in Ghana.
Rev. Obotuo sued the founder and leader of Glorious Word and Power Ministry, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah for defamation.
Not only him, Nana Osei Bonsu popularly known as Hoahi as well as his former tv station, Next TV were also sued for defamation.
In an interview with Hoahi, Reverend Isaac Owusu among other things accused Rev. Obotuo of being a fetish priest and not a proper man of God who deserves the attention of Ghanaians.
He alleged Rev. Obotuo despite being a man of God is also a serious womanizer who has impregnated a lady called Love and currently having a child with the said Love.
The interview was aired on Next TV where Hoahi used to work at the time before he was arrested and remanded in prison for 2 weeks for defaming Rev. Obofour.
Although the summons has been issued by the court, the bailiff has not been able to serve Rev. Owusu Bempah.
Documents obtained by Ghpage states Owusu Bempah has been playing hide and seek with the bailiff who is supposed to give him the court summons.
For 3 months now, the bailiff has not been able to hand over the summon to Rev. Owusu Bempah which the lawyers of Obotuo believe he is intentionally dodging the summons.
B.T Agbley Esq. counsel for Rev. Obotuo has, therefore, petitioned the Accra High Court to issue an Order of Substitute Service which has been granted.
Court has ordered the plaintiff (Rev. Obotuo) to serve Owusu Bempah by publishing the court summons in national newspapers including electronic publications.
Secondly, copies of the summons should be posted on the walls of Owusu Bempah’s church and lastly, a copy should be posted on the notice board of the court.
If after all these Rev. Owusu Bempah refuses to make an appearance, judgment will be given in his absence.
Next TV and their former worker, Hoahi have received the court summons from what Ghpage has gathered. However, they are yet to enter appearance since May Rev. Obotuo sued Next TV and Hoahi.
If they refuse to enter an appearance, the judge will have no choice but to try them in their absence and subsequently give a judgment which will be binding on all the parties involved.
Read the Order of Substitute Service
