Paramount Chief remanded for alleged murder

Aflao, Dec 1, GNA - Togbui Addo VIII, the Paramount Chief of the Klikor Traditional Area, and Togbui Amani II, a sub chief of the area, have been remanded in custody by an Aflao Circuit Court in connection with the alleged murder of two people whose bodies were found in a grave last Monday at Task Corner near Klikor.

Other suspects reminded were Francis Miliba, a Unit Committee chairman, Kwame Soglohu, a carpenter, Tsiamiga Etse Vidza, a farmer and Tanko Sikakpe, a herbalist and his two wives, Dovi Sikakpe and Novi Sikakpe. Togbe Addo, Togbe Amani, Vidza, Dovi and Norvi were charged with aiding and abetment while Soglohu, Miliba, Tanko and two others now at large, were provisionally charged with conspiracy.

Their pleas were not taken and the court presided over by Group Capt Martin Obeng-Ntim (Rtd) turned down the defence counsel's plea for bail to be granted the two chiefs saying the court lacked jurisdiction for bail in murder trials.

The accused reappear on December 15.

Mr Peter Glabu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Keta Divisional Police Command, said the bodies of two alleged murder victims without their legs and heads were uncovered in a shallow grave at Task Corner village on November 21.

He said the police went to the bank of Kadze, a creek near Task Corner, where they found apparels and fishing accoutrements belonging to the victims, identified as Klu Aborchie, 40 and George Wormenor Fiagbedzi, 42. Mr Glabu said investigations proved that the two were murdered while on a night fishing expedition in the creek.

Soglohu, one of the people mobilized by the Klikor chief to enforce a ban they imposed on fishing in the creek, was arrested while another two are on the run.

He said Togbi Addo, his sub chief and Vigah, who were mentioned by Soglohu, admitted organizing a team and supplied them with alcohol and money to ward off trespassers in the water body.

Miliba, the Unit Committee chairman of Dogbekofe, the prosecution said, was found to have bathed himself in a herbal concoction to fortify himself against evil spirits in the early hours of the day the bodies were found.

He said Tanko and his wives admitted that Aborchie, one of the victims who was receiving treatment at their shrine, passed through their house on his way to fishing in the creek that night.