Prosecution to bring new witnesses in Ya-Na trial

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - Prosecution in the Ya-Na trial on Tuesday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that it intended to bring new witnesses to testify.

Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) told the court that some of the witnesses had finally shown-up. At the last sitting, the prosecution told the court that it had closed its case after failing to produce two other witnesses it had intended to testify.

The prosecution therefore prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable it furnish the court and defence with the names and summary statements of the witnesses.

Mr Philip Addison, Lead Counsel for the defence said even though they had received the affidavit on the matter, they had not been provided with the summary statements of the witnesses.

Mr Justice E. K. Ayebi, the trial judge obliged to the prosecution's request and adjourned the case to Monday, November 29. He ordered the prosecution to ensure the defence and court were provided with copies of the summary statements of the witnesses. Twelve witnesses have testified in the case in which 15 people are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of Dagbon and 30 others in March 2002. They have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder and murder. The accused persons are; Mohammed Habib Tijani, Former Yendi District Chief Executive, Iddrisu Iddi 76, Alhaji Baba Iddrisu Abdulai 54, Kwame Alhassan 53, and Mohammadu Abdulai 57.

The others are; Saibu Mohammed 34, Alhassan Mohammed Briamah 40, Alhassan Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha and Sani Moro. The rest are; Baaba Ibrahim, Yakubu Usifu, Ahmed Abukari, Abdul Razak Usifu and Alhassan Braimah.

Zakaria Forest, the man alleged to have cut-off the head and hands of the Ya- Na, is at large.

The prosecution's case is that sometime in March 2002, the Ya-Na and some of his elders were killed following a clash between the two royal gates in Dagbon, the Abudus and Andanis.

After the clash, Idrissu Gyamfo and Yidana Sugri were arrested and prosecuted for the alleged murder but they were acquitted and discharged. The government in a fresh attempt to find the murderers conducted a dawn swoop at Yendi during which 41 persons were rounded up. After screening them in Bimbilla, 33 were granted self-recognisance bail, while the rest were brought to Accra and subsequently charged with the offence. 23 Nov. 10