Ya Na ‘killers’ go to High Court

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday July 16, 2010
All is set for the High Court to commence trial of 14 people arrested by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for their alleged involvement in the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, Chief of Dagbon and some 30 others.

It follows the completion of the bill of indictment and summary of evidence of six of the suspects yesterday by the Adjabeng District Magistrate Court presided over by Ms. Patricia Quansah in Accra.

The six brought to court under heavy security to be committed to the High Court included Baba Ibrahim aka Baba Zey, Alhassan Mohammed a.k.a Mohammed Cheampon, Mohammed Mustapha, Sani Moro, Yakubu Yusif a.k.a Leftee and Hammed Abukari Yussif as 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th accused respectively.

Those who were on June 28, committed to be tried were Alhaji Baba Abdulai Iddrisu aka Zohe, Kwame Alhassan aka Achiri, Mohamadu Abdulai aka Samasama, Sayibu Mohammed, Alhassan Braimah and Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani, 45, former District Chief Executive of Yendi during the NPP regime as 2nd , 3rd , 4th , 5th , 6th and 8th accused persons respectively.

So far it is Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest, the seventh accused person who is still at large.

When the case was called yesterday, Ms. Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) read the preliminary facts of the case before the packed court before the court went ahead to commit the accused.

She said “at the last adjourned date the facts stated among others that Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest, the 7th accused person (now at large) was seen by witnesses in this case decapitating the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II near a kraal after he had been dragged there by Mahamadu Abdulai @ Samasama 4th accused person and one other now at large. That the one who was at large is now the 12th accused person Shani Imoro.”

“Evidence will also be led to show that Alhassan Mohammed @ Mohammed Cheampon, Moro and others were seen with guns firing at the Gbewaa Palace on the 26th and 27th March 2002.”

“Evidence will also be led to show that Abukari Nabeli aka Kunkakums 14th accused person held two used lorry tyres whilst Mustapha the 11th accused held a gallon of petrol. That the 14th accused person put the lorry tyres on the body of Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II and Mustapha, the 11th accused person poured the petrol on the body and set it ablaze.”

“That Yakubu Yusif aka Leftee 13th accused person was also holding a gun by the body. That Zakaria Yakubu aka Zakaria Forest (at large) the 7th accused person was seen with a Dorman Machine.”

“That the 15th accused person Abdul Razak Yussif aka Nyaa was holding a camera and taking pictures of the scene. That after all these another group of men including the above led by Iddrisu Iddi aka Mbadugu came drumming, singing and dancing around the burning body,” the DPP said.

When the prosecutor gave the facts, the judge sought to know if the accused had anything to say before the committal but after conferring with Abubakari Abdulai who stood in for Phillip Addison as counsel for the accused, they said “we will rely on our statements given to the police.”

The judge then said “in the light of the bill of indictment and summary of evidence and in the opinion of the court the charges are maintainable. They are committed to the High Court for trial.”