Gregory Afoko
The Accra Central Magistrate Court yesterday threw out the bail application filed by lawyers for Gregory Afoko, one of the two accused persons standing trial over the murder of Adams Mahama, Upper East Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The court, presided over by Worlanyo Kotoku, said the court had no jurisdiction to grant the bail.
He advised lawyers for Gregory, who is the brother of the NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko, to go to the high court and apply for the bail.
The trial judge, however, granted the bail application filed by lawyers of Issah Musah, a driver who is being tried for abetment in connection with the murder.
As part of the bail conditions, Musah is to report to the police CID from Monday to Thursday every week until the case before the court is disposed of.
Musah was granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with four sureties.
The case has been adjourned until July 28, 2014.
Fifty-year-old Gregory, a farmer, and Musah are before the court for allegedly intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Adams on May 20, 2015 at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
According to the police, Issah, who is a member of the NPP, on 19th May, 2015, solicited and procured the deadly acid which he gave to other two suspects who in turn poured it on Adams, leading to his death.
Asabke Alangdi, the third accused, has been on the run together with his wife, leaving behind their one-and-a-half-year-old baby.
Gregory is facing charges of conspiracy and murder.
The pleas of the two have not been taken.
According to the police charge sheet, Gregory Afoko, after his arrest, was asked to lead the police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi, but “he rather took them to the father’s house. Police later located the house of the second but the suspect had got wind of their presence and absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby.”
“A gallon, which contains some of the substance and a plastic cup, were retrieved at the scene for forensic examination,” the charge sheet added. The police have revealed that a “post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased and the pathologist gave the cause of the death as shock lungs and extensive acid burns.”
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com