Third witness testifies in Gregory Afoko’s trial

A neighbour of late Mr Adams Mahama, a former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), yesterday testified in the trial of Gregory Afoko, the man accused of the murder of Mr Mahama.

Mr Azigri Quinn told the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court that Mr Mahama was his neighbour at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) flats, located at Bolgatanga, and the two had known each other for 15 years.

He stated that on May 20, 2015, the day Mr Mahama was allegedly attacked with a substance believed to be acid, he was asleep when his wife woke him up that someone was wailing and crying for help in Mr Mahama’s house.

According to him, he rushed to his neighbour’s flat in boxer shorts and saw Mr Mahama standing outside, naked and in pain.

“He was crying and moving up and down,” he said.

The prosecutor, Chief State Attorney, Mr Matthew Amponsah, then asked the witness if he observed anything on Mr Mahama’s body.

Mr Quinn answered that Mr Mahama’s body was peeling off and was becoming red.

He added that Mr Mahama asked him to send him to hospital, but because he was in boxers, he rushed back to his flat to wear a pair of trousers and a shirt.

On his return to Mr Mahama’s flat, he said other neighbours had gathered there and had tied a piece of cloth around Mr Mahama’s waist to cover his nakedness.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice L.L. Mensah, adjourned the case to July 4, 5 and 7, 2015, as the subsequent dates for the trial.

Mr Quinn is expected to continue with his evidence-in-chief, after which Afoko’s legal team will cross-examine him.

Witnesses

Mr Quinn is the third prosecution witness to testify in the trial. Mr Mahama’s wife, Hajia Zainabu Adams, and Ms Zuwera Issaka, another neighbour of Mr Mahama, have already testified.

The prosecution intends to call 13 witnesses in total as part of its case.

Not guilty

Afoko and a man identified as Asabke Alangdi, who is on the run, are alleged to have killed Mr Mahama by pouring a substance believed to be acid on him.

Afoko has, however, pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy to commit murder before a seven-member jury at the court.

Be mindful

Meanwhile, the court has cautioned journalists and other social commentators to be mindful of their comments about the case in order not to make any prejudicial comments.

The caution came on the heels of comments made by certain social commentators with regard to assertions by Mr Bugri Naabu, the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, in which he accused certain officials of the party of involvement in Mr Mahama’s death.

Bugri Naabu has since retracted his assertions and has apologised to the people that he accused.