Abass to fund Ndego's airfare

Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - Mr. Mohammed Attah, defence counsel for Alhaji Isaah Abass, who is being tried for drug related offences on Tuesday said his client was prepared to pay for the airfare of Mr. Ben Ndego, former head of Operations at the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), to come and testify in the case for the defence.

Mr Attah said after meeting with Mr Ndego's solicitors (Dery and Co) "we have agreed to purchase the ticket," adding, they had asked that the full name and passport number of Mr Ndego be provided to them. These would be given to a travel and tour operator to assist in issuing the air ticket.

Mr Ndego was subpoenaed by an Accra Fast Track High Court to testify for Abass, who is standing trial with Kwabena Amaning aka Tagor for drug-related offences.

Mr Ndego, who has been interdicted, is said to be pursuing further education in the United Kingdom. Abbas has alleged that Mr Ndego was the authority behind the recording of a meeting held at ACP Kofi Boakye's residence. The court, presided over by Mr. Justice Jones Dotse said if attempts to get the defence witness failed it would take it to mean that the witness was unavailable.

It would therefore ask the defence team to close its case, adding that, in as much as the court should allow an accused person to put up his defence, the court could not continue adjourning the case. The court therefore adjourned the matter to September 7 to enable Mr Attah to inform the court on progress made in respect of Mr Ndego's invitation.

Abass, 54, and Tagor, 34, described by the prosecution as self-confessed drug barons, are jointly charged for conspiracy and are being tried for drug-related offences.

Abass is also being held for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs, while Tagor has additionally been charged for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, buying and supplying of narcotic drugs. They have pleaded not guilty and the court has remanded them in prison custody.

The case of the prosecution is that the accused are self-confessed drug barons, who since 2004, had been actively engaged in activities of promoting and establishing various enterprises relating to narcotic drug offence.