Trial of alleged killers of Mobilla transferred to Accra

Tamale, June 4, GNA - A Tamale High Court presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence Mensah on Wednesday, transferred the trial of the alleged killers of Alhaji Issah Mobilla, former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), to Accra following a directive from the Chief Justice.

The presiding Judge explained that he received a letter on Tuesday from the Chief Justice asking him to transfer the case to Accra for further prosecution on the next adjourned date of June 17, 2009. The accused; Corporal Appiah Yaw, Private Modzaka Eric and Private Gokah Seth, all of the Six Battalion of Infantry (6BN) in Tamale, who did not appear in court, were still in military custody even though the court had at its previous sitting, ordered that they be placed in prison custody.

Alhaji Mobilla was reported dead in military custody a couple of weeks after the 2004 general election.

This was after he had gone to the police after being informed that he was wanted by the security agencies.

The late Alhaji Mobilla was suspected to be in possession of weapons but a search by the police on his car and residence found nothing.

He was reportedly moved from the Tamale Central Police Station to the military barracks at Kamina where he was allegedly tortured to death.

An autopsy report on him by a pathologist from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, indicated that Alhaji Mobilla died from multiple internal injuries as a result of the torture. Mr Adongo Sory, Counsel for the accused persons, agreed with the court that the case be transferred to Accra saying: "Since the instruction is from above, we have nothing to say".