A self-proclaimed African tribe have said they are ‘not scared of jail’ after a court ordered them off their woodland encampment.
Kofi Offeh, 36, from Ghana, and Jean Gasho, 43, from Zimbabwe, have been camping in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, since May, along with their 21-year-old American ‘handmaiden’ Kaura Taylor.
But Sheriff Peter Patterson today issued an ‘immediate extraction’ decree against the self-titled Kingdom of Kubala during a six minute hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
The order demands the group leave the private land, which is behind an industrial estate on the outskirts of the town. Court officers and police are understood to be ready to enforce the order.
Mr Offeh, who calls himself King Atehene, said the trio were ‘not afraid’ of the warrant for their eviction and ‘not scared of jail’.
Speaking at the encampment, where they have lived in nothing more than a few second-hand tents for weeks, he said: ‘The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us.
‘And we are not afraid of whatever the court – the so-called court – has granted.’
News of the eviction decision had been relayed to the group, who were not represented in court, by journalists who attended their camp immediately after.
Self-styled King Ateheme, real name Kofi Offeh
A copy of the court order delivered to camp
News of their eviction is broken to the tribe
Mr Offeh said: ‘If we must go, the creator will find us another place to go.’
As part of Sheriff Patterson’s order the so-called tribe have been told to pay costs, but the self-ennobled king said: ‘We have no money.
‘We do not use any currency, they can take it from our donations.
‘We are not scared of jail.’
Responding to suggestions his “fantasy” is coming to an end, he said: “It is not a fantasy, it is a prophecy.
“We walk through prophecy and we live it as it comes.”
The group later sang and chanted in the woodland.
The Kingdom of Kubala have claimed to be victims of historic displacement because their ancestors were forced out of the Highlands 400 years ago.
The trio said they returned to Scotland to reclaim their rightful homeland after Queen Elizabeth I ordered the eviction of the ‘black Jacobites’ in 1596.
They have divided opinion among local residents.
Some have left ‘offerings’ of Irn-Bru and shortbread, while others have branded them ‘delusional’.
They have camped out in the woods for the past month after being shifted from nearby land owned by Scottish Borders Council.
The court action was brought after the group ignored a previous eviction notice, which instructed them to leave their encampment by 5pm on Monday.
During the short hearing, lawyer Conner McConnell, acting on behalf of land owners David and Mary Palmer, lodged an action for the ‘removal of the unauthorised occupiers’ from woods known as Darnic Parklands on the outskirts of Jedburgh.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court where a sheriff ordered the tribe’s eviction
Queen Nandi and handmaiden Asnat at the wooded campsite
King Atehene and Queen Nandi with their handmaiden Asnat, seated
Sheriff Peter Paterson said: ‘I am happy to grant decree forcing the eviction from the property.’
The ruling included the ‘immediate extraction’ from the land and the award of expenses against the ‘tribe’ members to cover the costs of the sheriff officers.
Earlier, Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton said the landowner had been left with ‘no option’ but to seek an order from the sheriff.
He said: ‘The group of campers have clearly ignored the ultimatum given by the sheriff officers on Friday September 5.
‘This is disappointing but I can’t say it isn’t surprising given the group’s previous behaviour.
‘They now leave the landowner no option but to apply for a warrant and interdict.
‘The council will be supporting the landowner through the next steps and all the additional safety measures will remain in place until this situation is resolved.
‘Whilst this next stage of the eviction process plays out please can I remind people not to engage with this group.’
