MURDER TRIAL TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ACCRA (PAGE 3)

THE trial of the three suspects who allegedly murdered Alhaji Ibrahim Mobila, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), in military custody at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale may have to be transferred to the High Court in Accra for further hearing.
The intention of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General to transfer the case was made known by a state attorney at the resumed hearing of the case in Tamale yesterday.
Mr Solomon Atadze, who made the announcement, said reasons for the transfer had not been disclosed.
He, however, said information he had received so far indicated that the suspects — Corporal Appiah Yaw, Private Modzaka Eric and Private Gokah Seth — were in military custody in Accra.
He, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case to Wednesday, June 17, 2009, which the presiding judge accepted.
A defence counsel, Mr Carl Adongo, did not raise any objection to the Attorney- General’s decision, since the reasons were not disclosed to the court.
He, however, stressed, “We hope and really hope that come June 17, they will be in a position to commence proceedings.”
He argued that the continuous detention of his clients in custody was a violation of their human rights, adding, “I hope the state is not using that as a ploy to continue to keep the accused in custody.”
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence M. Mensah, acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Attorney-General on the transfer but said a decision would be arrived at on the next adjourned date.
He, therefore, advised all interested parties and the public to be circumspect, urging that “nobody should make ‘gidigidi’; it will be unproductive to go haywire. Let us exercise restraint and let the law take its course”.
Alhaji Mobila was reported dead in military custody some weeks after the 2004 general election. That was after he had presented himself to the police after he had been informed that he was being sought by the latter.
His arrest was in connection with claims that he was in possession of weapons. However, upon searches in his car and residence by the police, no such weapons were found.
The deceased was alleged to have subsequently been transferred from the Central Police Station to the Military Barracks at Kamina where he was tortured to death by the suspects.
Even though the police had earlier claimed that Alhaji Mobila died from an illness, an autopsy report on the deceased by a pathologist from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi later established that he died from multiple internal injuries as a result of torture.
Earlier yesterday, a veteran lawyer and politician, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, had told the packed court that the late Alhaji Mobila’s family had been made to bear unnecessary pain because of the long delay in arriving at a judgement over the cause of his death.
He said the delay was causing a lot of anxiety to the family, relatives and sympathisers and, therefore, pleaded with the court to expedite action on the matter to ensure that justice was arrived at expeditiously.
Mr Mahama also expressed concern over the repeated failure by the military authorities to produce the accused persons in court.
In his response, Mr Justice Mensah said he shared the concerns but indicated that the delay was not deliberate, since due process was being followed in the matter.