Family of late Upper East NPP Chairman petitions CJ
The family
of Adams Mahama, Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
who died from an acid attack, has petitioned the Chief Justice to look
into some decisions of the High Court trying the accused person in the case,
Gregory Afoko.
Among other
things, the family has issues with the decision of the court to remand the
accused in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), instead
of prison custody.
At the
court sitting yesterday, the prosecutor and Chief State Attorney, Mr Matthew
Amponsah, drew the attention of the court to the petition.
According
to the petition, copied to the presiding judge, Mr Justice Lawrence L.
Mensah, and the Attorney-General (A-G), the family was against the conditions
set by the court, which include the fact that the A-G must, at all times of the
court sitting, keep to its time and also produce all its witnesses.
But the
presiding judge, Mr Justice Mensah, was of the view that although the
petition was not really necessary, it was not within his jurisdiction to take
any action since the Chief Justice was in the position to direct the court as
to what to do.
He,
therefore, adjourned the case to May 3, pending a directive from the Chief
Justice.
At the
court’s last sitting, the A-G had asked it to remand the accused person
in prison custody, but the judge was of the view that given the many challenges
that compelled murder trials before the courts to delay, including broken-down
and unavailability of vehicles, it would be better to hold the suspect in BNI
custody.
That, the
judge said, would also speed up the trial, since the accused person would be
brought to court readily.
I’m not
guilty
Afoko has
pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and murder.
The court
subsequently fixed yesterday as the day for the trial to begin.
In all,
the state is expected to call 15 witnesses, including the widow of the
deceased, Hajia Zenabu Adams.
On April
5, 2016, the court constituted a seven-member jury to pave the way for the
trial of Afoko.
The
composition of the seven-member jury, made up of three males and four
females, was arrived at after Afoko had used his right to three peremptory
challenges to reject three potential jurors, two males and a female.
Facts
According
to the facts of the case, on May 14, 2015, Gregory’s brother, Mr Paul Afoko,
and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, then National Chairman and General Secretary
respectively of the NPP arrived in Bolgatanga for a meeting.
Adams
Mahama, the prosecution claimed, organised some thugs to violently attack the
two, scuttling the planned meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House, accusing them
of campaigning against the flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and also
not notifying him of the meeting.
The
situation, according to the prosecution, was later brought under control by the
police, adding that Gregory who was then upset, confronted Mahama but was
chased out by thugs.
Another
group
The facts
also noted that Gregory and one Asabke formed another youth group in their bid
to protect persons perceived to be against Nana Akufo-Addo.
It said
Gregory and Asabke held a series of meetings with the youth and on May 20,
2015, they laid ambush at Mahama’s residence with a substance suspected to be
acid.
“Adams
Mahama returned home around 11:10 p.m. in his pick-up vehicle, with
registration number NR 761 – 14, and immediately he parked the vehicle in front
of his house, Gregory and Asabke went close and signalled him to roll down the
glass.
“Mahama
identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk
to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on
his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama
started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid
and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution added
-
and
immediately he parked the vehicle in front of his house, Gregory and
Asabke went close and signalled him to roll down the glass.
“Mahama identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution added.
“Mahama identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution added.
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and
immediately he parked the vehicle in front of his house, Gregory and
Asabke went close and signalled him to roll down the glass.
“Mahama identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution added.
“Mahama identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution added.
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