Tribunal refuses to discharge suspected assassin

The Tamale Community Tribunal on Wednesday dismissed an application by a State Attorney, Mr. Agbeko Kraa to discharge Iddrisu Jehanfo, the suspected assassin of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of Dagbon Traditional Area.

His plea was not taken and was remanded in prison custody until September 4.

Mr. Kraa, who was to prosecute, told the tribunal chaired by Mrs. Angelina Gyamfi, that the Northern Regional Police Command had on Wednesday received instructions from the Wuaku Commission to discontinue the case and instead bring Jehanfo to the Commission on Thursday, August 29.

Mr. Kraa said he was, therefore, applying for discharge to enable the Police to send him to Sunyani where the Commission, which probing the Yendi crisis is holding hearings.

The Prosecutor did not produce any written evidence to support the claim and the Chairman demanded a written evidence before the tribunal could take decision. It took the Police about one hour to bring a copy of a wireless message and an unsigned document, which was addressed to the Police and not the Office of the Regional State Attorney.

The tribunal adjourned for five minutes and when it reconvened, the Chairman said she could act on an unsigned document. Mrs. Gyamfi said she had not received instruction from the Attorney General and, therefore, ruled that Jehanfo should be kept in prison custody and adjourned the case to September 4.

She said while Jehanfo is in custody, the Police must arrange to send him to the Commission.