Five denied bail over Bimbilla riots
The Tamale District Magistrate Court has refused bail for five of the eight suspected persons who were arrested in connection with the recent riots at Bimbilla, which led to the death of about 13 people.
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The accused persons, who have been on remand since July 10, would reappear on August 6, 2015.
Those denied bail are Alhasssn Fatawu, 31, Suale Tahiru, Mohammed Sualisu, 20, Imoro Nashiru, 35, and Iddrisu Habib.
The court, presided over by Mr Anthony Asaah, advised counsel for the suspects to seek bail at the high court, since it had the jurisdiction to grant bail in murder cases.
Two lawyers, Mr A. F. Yakubu and Mr Mohammed Shaibu, appealed to the court to use its discretion in handling the case, adding that “the fact that people were killed does not mean innocent people should be arrested”.
According to them, it was against the rights of their clients to be denied bail.
Mr Yakubu, who is the lawyer for Alhassan Fatawu, a registrar at the Nanumba Traditional Council, appealed to the court to grant his client bail, since he was a government worker and therefore his absence from work would affect effective delivery at the council.
“We would be glad if he is granted bail so that he can report to the police daily, as he is required to assist in investigations, since the traditional council is a state institution and he should also be given an opportunity to carry out his statutory functions,” he said.
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Background
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of being behind the riots that took place at Bimbilla between two butcher groups, who were fighting over the denial of one of the groups to honour its obligation of presenting a share of their meat to the regent as custom demanded.