3 BNI Officers Discharged

An Accra Circuit Court yesterday discharged the three security operatives who were facing trial for allegedly possessing narcotics. This follows a letter from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice delivered to the court by Ashong Okai, Assistant State Attorney, which ordered the release of the three accused persons except the first accused Yakubu Eddisah, who had pleaded guilty to the offence at the initial stage of the case. This compelled the trial judge Francis Obiri to adjourn the case to Monday, June 16, 2014 for the sentencing of Eddisah. The security officers are Lance Corporals Isaac Okine, Dennis Maakogor Pwamang of the Bole District Police and Felix Bani, a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) Officer also stationed at Bole in the Northern Region. Eddisah was said to be in possession of 38 wrappers of substance suspected to be cannabis and 32 wrappers of a substance suspected to be cocaine. Okine, Maakogor Pwamang and Bani were also charged with the supply of substance suspected to be cocaine without lawful authority. At the initial stages of the trial, DSP Aidan Dery told the court that the complainants, who are police officers from Wa- Bamboi Police Highway team on February 13, this year, had information that Eddisah was selling narcotics at Banda-Nkwanta, a mining community near Bole. He said the patrol team proceeded to the location to effect arrest. DSP Dery stated that during investigations, Eddisah claimed ownership of the suspected cocaine but denied knowledge of the suspected cannabis. According to prosecution, Eddisah mentioned Okine, Maakogor Pwamang and Bani as his suppliers. DSP Dery said upon their arrest, Okine, Maakogor Pwamang and Bani denied the offence in their caution statements.