'Tribe' remains defiant - despite sheriff's order to leave woodland

A SHERIFF yesterday issued a warrant for the removal of a self-styled “African tribe” from privately owned land.

- By Nick Forbes

Members of the so-called Kingdom of Kubala have been camping in woodland near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders for the past few weeks.

Issuing the order at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Peter Paterson said it would come into effect immediately.

The three members of the self-proclaimed kingdom have said they are reclaiming land stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago.

The civil action was brought after the group ignored a previous eviction notice that instructed them to leave their encampment by 5pm on Monday, September 8.

The group is made up of Ghanaian leader Kofi Offeh, 36 — the self-declared King Atehene, his Zimbabwean wife Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, and ‘handmaiden’ Kaura Taylor, of Texas, who calls herself Asnat.

During the hearing, the lawyer Conner McConnell, representing landowners Mary and David Palmer, said his clients were seeking the “removal of occupiers on the basis of no right to title”.