ASAWASE NPP CRISIS: FIVE MURDER SUSPECTS REFUSED BAIL

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A large number of sympathizers were at the court

The Asokwa Magistrate Court in Kumasi today, Tuesday November 24, refused a bail application by Counsel for accused persons standing preliminary trial in connection with the murder of a member of the NPP in the Asawase Constituency, Sadiq Abubakar. 

The Court therefore remanded three of the four accused persons into prison with the fourth one, Hajia Wasila Gariba, the Deputy Constituency Women Organizer of the NPP into Police custody. 

Hajia Gariba is said to be an asthmatic patient who requires easy access to healthcare at all times. 

The accused are to make their third appearance at the same court on the 7th of next month. Here is a report by Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu in Kumasi.

Five persons including one in abstention are standing trial in connection with the murder of a 30-year old Spare parts dealer at the Suame Light Industrial Area in Kumasi, Sadiq Abubakar on the 6th of this month following a misunderstanding between two factions within the Asawase Constituency of the NPP. 

They are Osman Issah, the Constituency Youth Organizer who is also the Tricycles Supervisor at Zoomlion, Bawa Musah, a cobbler as well as Alhassan Issah popularly known as Million who is also a driver’s mate. 

The fifth accused named only as Mohammed is however at large. 

Supt. Emml Akunnor speaking to journalists
Prosecuting, Sergeant Michael Kooley of the Ghana Police Service told the Court presided over by Mr. Korkor Owusu Achiaw that an autopsy report on the body of Abubakar as part of the investigations into circumstances that led to his death has proven that he died of hemorrhagic shock, sharp-edged penetration into his chest and also an assault. 

Sergeant Kooley told the court that all the accused persons have denied their involvement in the murder of Abubakar. 

He noted however, that the accused were among people who subjected the deceased to severe 





 beatings during which he was stabbed and pronounced clinically dead on his arrival at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi after the incident.

 Counsel for two of the accused, Kwame Owusu Sekyere challenged the jurisdiction of the Asokwa District Magistrate Court to hear the case. 

He also accused the State of hiding behind Article 96 Clause Seven of the Criminal Procedure, Act 30, to unfaithfully keep the accused persons in prison custody even though prosecution had failed to directly connect any of them to the murder. 

In pronouncing sentence on the matter, the Magistrate, Mr. Korkor Owusu Achiaw said he did not have the authority to grant bail to the accused in such a matter and therefore asked the legal Counsel to seek redress at the superior courts.

 Later in an interview, the Head of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, Superintendent Emmanuel Akunnor explained that all that the Prosecution is doing at this preliminary trial is to get a bail of indictment of the accused to allow for the substantive trial of a murder charge to start at the High Court. 

He said other suspects including one Duna said to be the prime suspect are being sought for by the police to help with the prosecution.

 Superintendent Akunnor said the Asawase Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Isaac Brenya is now on a Police enquiry bail and that he is still one of the suspects in the case.





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