The Accra Magistrate’s Court, on Wednesday again refused bail for Gregory Afoko, the man charged with the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama.
The court, presided over by Mr Kotoku Worlanyo, however, asked counsel for the accused to make available a ruling of the High Court prior to either granting or refusing him bail. Reaction
Prior to this development, counsel for Afoko had expressed frustration at the snail pace of the trial and accused the state of showing little interest in the case.
This was after the prosecutor, Superintendent of Police, Mr Francis Baah, had told the court that he contacted the A-G’s Department to “know the progress of the bill of indictment.”
Mr Israel Ackaah, lead counsel for the accused said the police had consistently failed to conduct investigations into the case and requested for adjournments, an act he said the court should not tolerate.
“It has been eight months since the accused was arrested and the state machinery has been put in place to prosecute him.
“The police have concluded their investigations and submitted their report to the Attorney General (AG), yet they have not served him with the bill of indictment,” counsel said.
He argued that the police had always gone to the court with excuses that the docket on the case was still before the A-G and “this court cannot tolerate such excuses by the police.
Refusal
However, the court asked counsel to make available to the court the ruling of the High Court prior to either granting or refusing bail to the accused and adjourned hearing to December 16, 2015.
Charge
Afoko and Asabke Alangdi, who is on the run, have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder.
A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the A-G had advised that there was not enough evidence to charge him.
Facts
According to the facts of the case, on May 14, 2015, Gregory’s brother, Mr Paul Afoko and the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, arrived in Bolgatanga for a meeting.
It said Mr Mahama organised some thugs to violently attack them, scuttling the planned meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House for campaigning against the flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and also for not notifying him.
The situation was later brought under control by the police,” the prosecution said.
According to the prosecution, an upset Gregory confronted Adams Mahama but was chased out.
Another group
The facts also noted that Gregory and Asabke formed another youth group in their bid to protect persons perceived to be against Nana Akufo-Addo.
It said the accused persons held a series of meetings with the youth and on May 20, 2015, they laid ambush at Adams Mahama’s residence with a substance suspected to be acid.
It said Mr 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, the suspects went close and signalled him to roll down the glass. Having identified the suspects to be party members, the prosecution said, Mr Mahama 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.
As a result, Mr Mahama started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, came to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle, the prosecution stated.
Injuries
According to the prosecution, Mahama’s wife sustained burns on the right side of her chest and breast while assisting her husband. When she enquired about what had happened to him, he told her Gregory and Asabke had attacked him.
Mahama died while being airlifted to Accra for treatment. Gregory, who was later picked up, led the police to Asabke’s father’s house.
The police later located Asabke’s house but he had then absconded with his wife, abandoning their baby.A post-mortem report on Mahama said he died of shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.
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