A man who led a self-declared “kingdom” in the Scottish Borders has been deported from the United Kingdom following a high-profile land dispute that drew international attention.
Kofi Offeh, who referred to himself as King Atehene, was removed from the UK and returned to Accra on 22 April, according to reports confirmed by the Home Office. His arrival was recorded at Accra International Airport.
Offeh was a central figure behind the self-proclaimed “Kingdom of Kubala,” a group that gained widespread media coverage after establishing a camp in woodland near Jedburgh in May of the previous year. The group asserted that the land rightfully belonged to their ancestors, claiming it had been taken from them approximately 400 years ago.
He was joined in the venture by Jean Gasho, who adopted the title Queen Nandi, and later by Kaura Taylor, who described herself as a handmaiden.
Their presence attracted a substantial online following, with videos featuring singing, dancing and chanting shared widely across platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, where they amassed tens of thousands of followers.
However, their occupation of the woodland soon led to legal challenges. In September, the private landowners initiated court proceedings, arguing that the group had no legal entitlement to remain on the property. A sheriff subsequently granted an eviction order, leading to their removal.
Shortly after, the group relocated to a nearby site owned by the Scottish Borders Council. This second occupation also prompted legal action, culminating in a coordinated enforcement operation in October involving sheriff officers, police and immigration authorities, which resulted in the group’s removal.
At the time of that operation, officials confirmed the arrest of a Ghanaian man and an American woman on suspicion of immigration-related offences.
