Accused strips naked in courtroom

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 11 June '99

An accused stripped himself naked at the Koforidua circuit tribunal to compel th e presiding judge to grant him bail.

Twenty six year-old Yakubu Abubakar, standing trial for allegedly receiving stol en items, raised his hands in the dock to speak.

As Mr Senya Dzamefe, the presiding judge, beckoned him to speak, Abubakar lowere d the trousers he was wearing to the kneel level and stripped himself naked.

He then turned to display a skin disease on his back to the judge.

It took the psychological skills of Mr Dzemefe to get the accused, who is on tri al with three others, to re-dress with the assurance that judgement in his case slated for June 10 would be delivered on June 15 due to the absence in court of some of the parties..

The police and prison officers had to help Abubakar to put on his garments when they failed to appeal to his senses.

Abubakar was returned to prison custody to await judgement on June 15,