Ya-Na Andani's assailants refused bail

Two persons who were implicated in the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of the Dagbon Traditional Area, on Wednesday appeared before an Accra High Court charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murdering the Chief.

Yidana Sugri and Iddrisu Gyanfo, both farmers, pleaded not guilty. The court refused them bail, saying tension at Dagbon was still high and that in view of the curfew being observed in the area, it would be in the interest of the accused persons to still be in custody.

The court gave the assurance that the trial would go on smoothly, to facilitate the dispensation of justice. "In this way, the accused would not suffer undue delay." The court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau, empanelled a seven-member jury to commence the trial.

Appau, however, advised the jury not to be bothered with whatever discussions hat might go in the media and outside the court, but endeavour to pay attention to matters arising out of the court.

He said, "you should be bound by the evidence that would be led in court to make an informed judgement in the matter". Prosecuting, Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, said prior to the celebration of the Bugum festival, "a Muslim fire festival," the security situation deteriorated at Yendi.

As a result, he said, the Regional Security Council on the orders of the National Security Council imposed a dusk to down curfew on the people and the celebration of the Bugum festival was banned.

The Prosecution said on Sunday, 24 March 2002, the Northern Regional Minister lifted the ban on the celebration. The following day, Abdulai Ziblim, the Mbadugu of the late Ya Na, sent his son Ziblim Abdulai to call his second in command, Duguwulana to Gbewaa Palace for the celebration of the festival.

The Prosecution said Ziblim reported that the Abudu's had attacked him and destroyed his bicycle. The matter was reported to the Ya Na, who asked that a complaint should be made to the Police.

Later, gunshots were heard in the vicinity of the Gbewaa Palace, from the direction of the Abudu's. This sparked off hostilities between the Abudus and Andanis resulting in exchange of fire between them.

Gyambiby stated further that the shooting became intensified, during which the Gbewaa Palace and the nearby houses were set ablaze. The situation became critical and the late Ya-Na and a few elders, who were left behind escaped from the palace through the main gate, but they were gunned down.

Some of the youth, who were with the Ya-Na, however, escaped and hid themselves behind the palace to observe the events. The Prosecution said while there, they saw the dead body of the Ya-Na being dragged to a spot about 50 metres from the Palace.

The Prosecution said the youth saw Sugri carrying around his neck, the severed arm of the Ya-Na bearing a wristwatch and dancing to drumming. Sugri dared any Andani, who was brave to go forward to collect it. All along, he was heard by some of the youth saying: "I have conquered the Ya-Na."

The Prosecution said portion of the facts revealed that Gyanfo was also seen carrying the severed head of Ya-Na stuck on a spear and presenting it to Ex- Zalankolana Mba Dugu, of the Abudu gate in the presence of other people.

He said in reaction to the disturbances in Yendi, which led to the death of Ya-Na and 30 others, the President, in April last year, set up a Commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.

Nana Obiri Boahene, a Suyani-based legal practitioner, who represented the accused, said "we are all worried about the incident, but care must be taken in order not to implicate innocent persons." He said the Prosecution's case was based on conjecture and speculations and, therefore, told the court that there was no iota of truth in the facts.