Appiah Stadium Attacker Remanded Again

Linford Owuo aka 'Cedi' FOR THE second time, A Kumasi Circuit Court One yesterday slapped a two week remand on Linford Owuo a.k.a 'Cedi', a suspected National Democratic Congress (NDC) operative who is allegedly terrorizing supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the city.

The 30-year-old who is alleged to have attacked and completely burned a Daewoo Lenox saloon car with registration number AS 8345 belonging to one Frank Appiah, popularly known as 'Appiah Stadium,' a famous NPP serial caller would reappear in court on April 2.

Justice Emmanuel Amo Yartey who presided over the court likewise remanded the suspect to reappear on the same date for his alleged brutal assault on Ekow Sackey, the Assembly member for the Asem Electoral area, in the Subin constituency in Kumasi about two months ago.

The NDC thug, who is standing trial on three counts of arson, robbery and assault, was first remanded by Justice Yartey to reappear on March 19 when he was brought to the court on March 4.

Justice Yartey refused to grant bail to the suspect, though his lead counsel Kwame Owusu Sekyere argued profusely for it.

Earlier, prosecutor, Chief Inspector A.K Fandoh of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, prayed the court to further remand the suspect into prison custody pending the arrival of advice on the case from the Attorney General's Department.

As if the case was a battle between the major political forces in the country, the less than 15-minute proceedings were witnessed by a large crowd of both supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

A large army of suspected NDC 'machomen' in the Garden City led by their leader, one Abeiku, also stormed the court premises to give moral support to their colleague.

After raining insults and casting insinuations on NPP supporters at the court without any reaction, the 'macho men' besieged the premises of the Adum Central Prisons where the suspect is being kept.

Cedi, on Wednesday March 4, purportedly took the law into his hands when he led an unprovoked attack on Appiah Stadium and in the process burnt his car which is said to be valued at GH¢7,100 whilst robbing him of GH¢2,750.

 According to the facts of the case, the victim was driving the said car along the Asafo roundabout around 11:30am on the day in question when the suspect, in company with four armed persons, allegedly stopped him and demanded his car keys.

The victim obliged and was subsequently forced into the suspect's car and driven to Fante New Town, around O.A Transport Services area, where he was later bungled into a waiting     taxi.

The victim's seized car and the taxi cab were later driven to the Asem School Park where the suspect and his accomplices stole GH¢2,750 from it and later set it ablaze; burning it beyond recognition.

Afterwards, the victim was driven in the same taxi cab from Asem School through Amakom towards an unknown destination but was rescued by some passer-bys who heard him scream for help from the taxi.

The suspect, who DAILY GUIDE learnt operates a gymnasium at the Asem School Park area, was previously being sought for by the police for his alleged assault on Ekow Sackey.  

Hon. Sackey, who suffered serious multiple head injuries as a result of the unprovoked attack from the NDC hoodlum sources indicated, is still at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) receiving treatment, two months after the horrific assault.

Cedi, who was arrested in his Fante-New-Town residence on Thursday March 5, at first confessed to police that he robbed and caused the arson because Appiah Stadium dared to criticize the NDC government on air but he intriguingly denied the charges when he was brought to the court for the first time.

He is purported to have publicly disclosed that he was operating on the orders of Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum, an allegation the Ashanti regional chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has vehemently denied.

Cedi, it is alleged to have categorically declared that in as much as he continues to live, he would make sure that life becomes unbearable for NPP activists in Kumasi, especially serial callers who call to defend the party and also criticize the ruling government.

From Morgan Owusu, Kumasi