Afoko for High Court over Adams murder

Barring any last minute hitches, 52-year-old Gregory Afoko is expected to be hauled before an Accra High Court (Criminal Division) today over the alleged murder of Adams Mahama, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The arraignment of the farmer who is a brother to Paul Afoko, the suspended National Chairman of the NPP, follows about eight months of committal proceedings at an Accra Central Magistrate Court presided over by Worlanyo Kotoku.

Meanwhile, DAILY GUIDE has gathered that the case which is due to be heard today has not yet been assigned to any court.

The paper further learnt that the prosecution may go to court today to renew the remand warrant of Gregory, especially when a jury was yet to be composed to hear the case.

At the last sitting at the Magistrate Court, state prosecutors led by Matthew Amponsah, a Chief State Attorney, presented 17 pieces of evidence to the court to indict the farmer.

Charged with conspiracy to murder and murder, the much awaited bill of indictment was read to Gregory who said he had nothing to say and would rely on his statements to the police.

The state exhibits include the investigation caution statement of the accused dated 22nd May, 2015, further statements dated 28th May and a charge caution statement of 25th November, 2015.

The others are the post-mortem report of the late Adams, dated May 25, and the medical report of the wife of the deceased, Hajia Zenabu Adams.

The prosecution also paraded the gallon containing residue of the acid which was poured on the late Adams, a carpet in the car the deceased was using at the time of the attack, the pair of shoes used by the deceased, a sample of the seat in the deceased’s vehicle and a foam from the vehicle.

State prosecutors further submitted among others, the trousers of Afoko, the forensic report issued by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on the substances retrieved from the crime scene and the medical report of the accused person dated May 26, 2015.

Ekow Ampah Korsah, lawyer for Gregory, had hinted that his client would fight the evidence as put out by the prosecution’s bill of indictment.

He said the prosecution’s version of the case was not the truth, indicating that it could not stand the test of scrutiny at the high court.

Israel Ackah, a member of the defence lawyers, stated that in the course of the trial, they would file for alibi.

He said Gregory intended to call one Linda Agana and John Afoko.

Ackah maintained that three other witnesses, namely, Musah Issah, David Afoko and one Mr Adjene, were expected to be called.

Afoko is standing trial for intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Adams on May 20, 2015 at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region after an acid bath.

According to the A-G, Afoko must be charged for conspiracy to murder and murder while one Issah Musah, a member of the NPP who was alleged to have on May 19, 2015 solicited and procured the deadly acid which he gave to the other two suspects who in turn poured the acid on Adams, must be freed.

Asabke Alangdi, the third accused, has been on the run together with his wife, leaving behind their one-and-half-year-old baby.

According to the police charge sheet, Gregory, after his arrest, was asked to lead the police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi, but “he rather took them to the father’s house. Police later located the house of the second but the suspect had got wind of their presence and absconded with his wife leaving behind their baby.”

“A gallon, which contains some of the substance, and a plastic cup were retrieved at the scene for forensic examination,” the charge sheet added.

The police have revealed that a “post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased and the Pathologist gave the cause of death as shock lungs and extensive acid burns.”