Accused in Ardayman murder case denied bail

Twenty-five people accused of the murder of Nii Tetteh Saban, a development chief of Ardayman, near Accra, were yesterday refused bail by the Adjabeng District Court.

The court, presided over by Mr Isaac Addo, ruled that it had no jurisdiction to grant bail and, subsequently remanded the accused into police custody.

Lawyers for the 25 individuals have consistently argued that their clients had no connection with the murder, describing their arrest and subsequent prosecution as victimisation.

They are also of the view that the police have failed to name the specific role each of the accused played in Nii Saban’s murder.

Bail application

At yesterday’s hearing, the legal team of the 25 individuals made an application for bail.

One of the lawyers, Mr Stephen Asante, prayed the court to grant the clients bail, per the Supreme Court decision on May 5, 2016, which made all offences bailable, subject to the discretion of a law court.

The court, however, ruled that as a district court, it had no jurisdiction to grant bail but rather determine whether or not there was a case for the accused to stand trial at the High Court.

Such a process, Mr Addo said, could only be done per the information in the bill of indictment, which was yet to be laid before the court.

“Without the bill of indictment, the court cannot determine whether or not there is a prima facie case against the accused. I refuse the bail application,’’ the presiding magistrate ruled.

Hearing continues on August 23, 2017.

Accused persons

The police initially charged 21 people with Nii Saban’s murder but later discharged two of them.

At yesterday’s hearing, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Gregory Yeboah, charged three more people in connection with the murder.

They are Kwabena Okyere Baah, Patrick Nii Otto Dodoo, aka Soldier, and Francis Xavier Dzodonu.

The other accused include Asafoatse Neequaye Kortey, aka Cobra; Musah Mohammad, aka Commander; Rahim Yakubu, James Laryea, Michael Akumeh, Prince Kwesi Boateng, Dzaatse Nii Okai-Koifio, David Sampah and Solomon Attoh.

Others are Abel Borte, Emmanuel Aryee, Enoch Atoh, Ezekiel Nii Ayeequaye Tetteh, Eric Aryeequaye Armah, Frank Okine, Derrick Kwabena Mensah, Prince Okine, Joseph Oblitey Commey, Nathanial Ayah, Henry Crentsil, Nii Ayi and Roger Annor.

All of them have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Facts

The facts, as presented by Chief Inspector Yeboah, were that on June 8, 2017, Nii Saban and some family members were attacked by the 25 people during the performance of a ritual to lift the ban on drumming and noisemaking as part of the Homowo Festival.

Nii Saban was shot and also inflicted with machete wounds during the attack, leading to his death.