Asawasi NPP murder trial: No show for chairman as four others are remanded again

The Asokwa District Magistrate Court has again remanded into prison custody four persons suspected to have a hand in the murder of an NPP supporter at Asawasi.

Constituency Youth Organizer, Issah Usman, a tricycle supervisor at Zoomlion, Women’s Organizer, Wasila Gariba -unemployed, Bawa Musah (cobbler) and Alhassan Issah (driver’s mate) face charges of murdering Abubakar Sidique about two weeks ago.

The tragedy followed factional clashes at the party office over the suspension of Paul Afoko as NPP National Chairman.

Lead counsel for two of the accused (the Youth and Women’s organizers), Kwame Owusu Sekyere, had earlier pleaded for bail for his clients on grounds investigations need to be completed to establish a charge of murder.

The court however upheld prosecution’s argument that cases of murder do not allow for bail.

Female accused person, Wasila Gariba, had to sit in court to because she is sick.

At a point she had to be escorted out of the court for some moment because, according defense counsel, she is asthmatic and needed to take her medicine.

The lawyer prayed the court to consider her condition and grant her bail, but the judge could only ask police to ensure she gets her medication while on remand.

The court presided over by His Worship Korkor Achaw Owusu, after listening to both sides remanded the accused to prison custody till December, 7, when they will re-appear.

He explained because the case involved murder, his hands are tied and could therefore grant no bail.

Head of Legal and Prosecution at the Ashanti Regional Police Command, Emmanuel Akonnor, has been explaining why the police consolidated the charges.

“There were three people on one charge sheet and Bawa Musah was on a different charge sheet so we had to consolidate both sheets making it one”

The docket on the case will be forwarded to the Attorney- General’s Department for advice.

Superintendant Akonnor explains; “we have not charged them but we have been investigating a case of murder against them on which the law permits us to come to court to seek to detain them in lawful custody.”

Anxious members of the public who were expecting to see NPP Asawasi Constituency Chairman, Isaac Brenya, in court were disappointed.

He was in police custody as at the last hearing but granted police enquiry bail then and assisting with investigations.

“We are still investigating a case of murder against him but you know the police we have to look for more clues before we can connect him to what we are doing”, he explained.

Family and friends of the accused persons were disappointed and worried lawyers couldn’t secure bail for them.

Father of Abubakar Saddique was for the first time, came to court. He was okay with the proceedings so far but wants perpetrators to be brought to book.