... Accused of Threatening Judge

A man putting himself out as a bodyguard of President John Agyekum Kufuor has landed in the uncomfortable grips of the Bureau of National Investigations. While the 43-year-old man claims to be a serving officer who answers to the name of W.O. II Richard Nixon Tettey, the BNI says he rose only to the rank of sergeant, was courtmartialled, demoted to private and eventually dismissed. While the BNI and Koforidua High Court sources accuse him of threatening to arrest the supervising High Court Judge, Justice George E. Twum, he denies it vehemently and claims he actually admires Mr. Twum's work.

BNI sources however claim that investigations are underway that should show Tettey as an impostor. Richard Nixon Tettey was picked up by High Court security on Tuesday morning and handed over to the Bureau when he denied before Justice Twum that he had ever threatened to arrest him, but failed to convince the judge of his identity.

An identity card he carried, which CHRONICLE sighted, bore neither his photograph, nor his number as a security guard. When CHRONICLE asked him who appointed him presidential guard "the Old Man himself" was what came by way of a reply, meaning Mr.

Kufuor himself employed him. Asked where he had been working earlier he mentioned no other place than the Castle! On why Mr. Kufuor would reach out to pick him alone from among the Castle security he said "You know it is not everything we say. We had known each other long before." Further pressed to name the person who issued him with the I.D. card, his response was Mr. Gabby Nketia, the personal aide of the President.

He claimed most of them, security personnel, at the president's home had been given similar cards, pending the provision of a more permanent one. While he served at the Castle, he was a "Communications Man" and now that he is at JAK's place, "I guard him from his home to his State House Office and back each day" the "W.O." said.

As to why he was in Koforidua on Tuesday, he answered that he was off duty. Meanwhile, as he answered CHRONICLE questions, a Walkie Talkie he wielded blared once and he stopped to talk to somebody who sounded like his colleague at the other end.

He was confronted with the BNI determination that he had been demoted and sacked but he denied, insisting that, though he had a case with his outfit, the matter is "pending before the supreme Court." The case which attracted Richard to the premises of the High Court is a litigation over inheritance between his adopted uncle Isaac Opoku, and his (Opoku's) sister, Afia Amoanimaa both of Asuom. According to Maame Amoanima.

Sometime last year, when Richard Nixon was supposedly at the Castle, he boasted to her that he would "arrest Justice Twum and send him to Accra to be disciplined". His reason was said to be that the judge was favouring her, Amoanimaa, in the on-going case.

When on Tuesday, at the court, Justice Twum who had heard that a man was going about threatening to discipline him, he announced it openly. "Oh there he is, standing near that wall," Maame Amoanimaa answered impulsively.

And Richard was invited to the Judge's chambers. He denied ever talking to his uncle's wife on any topic.

The local community who were roused by the spreading news are expectantly waiting for confirmation of Kufuor's 'bodyguard's status.