body-container-line-1
13.12.2005 Crime & Punishment

‘Omanhene’ in Police grips

13.12.2005 LISTEN
By The Sun

THE BEST friend of the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Nana Nkua Okumdom II, ex-Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso traditional area was last Tuesday arrested by the Homicide Unit of the CID headquarters in Accra for allegedly orchestrating the murder of a pregnant woman at Sefwi-Tumantu in 2001.

The ex-omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso paramouncy who had since June 2005 till date been guarded by over 150 soldiers from Takoradi; working under the command of the Western Regional Minister, in the wake of the chieftaincy conflict that rocked the area, is in the grip of the police CID in Accra for his alleged involvement in the murder of the pregnant woman, Felicia Djebuah. The minister's pal, Nana Nkua Okumdom II has since his arrest last Tuesday, been granted bail to report to the Police CID headquarters in Accra daily. The victim, Felicia Djebuah, 30, was murdered in cold blood by five convicts who are currently serving in jail at the Nsawam prisons where the details about the ex-Omanhene's alleged involvement in the murder of the pregnant woman had since been emanating.

The ex-Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso is said to have contracted his nephew, Yaw Awuah who conspired with the convicts who had since been sentenced to life imprisonment at Nsawam prison by a Sekondi High Court on provisional charge of murder of the pregnant woman.

The ex-Omanhene's nephew who is currently in custody at CID headquarters in Accra was grabbed by the Homicide Officer, ASP Arhin, from his hideout in Sefwi-Wawso two weeks ago.

Giving the details Inspector Joseph B. Darkwah of the Public Affairs Unit at the CID headquarters in Accra, confirmed to THE SUN that the ex-Omanhene of Sefwi- Wiawso was on Tuesday, November 29, arrested by the Police CID at the headquarters in Accra for allegedly masterminding the killing of a pregnant woman which dates back in 2001.

According to Inspector Darkwah, the suspect, Nana Nkuah Okumdom II, had been cautioned and granted police inquiry bail for him to report daily to the CID headquarters in Accra.

The inspector noted that the ex-Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso would be arraigned before court when the investigations are completed.

The convict at Nsawam prisons, Yaw Pie, the inspector said, had hinted the police that he could prove his allegation that it was the ex-Omanhene who ordered for the killing of the pregnant woman.

The cop said that the convict had alleged that it was the ex-Omanhene who detailed some men to see him (the convict) for the pregnant woman to be murdered.

Inspector Darkwah said that the convict at Nsawam Prison, had revealed that the ex-Omanhene's nephew, approached the convict for the alleged plan on the murder of the pregnant woman to be executed upon instructions from the ex-Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso.

A reliable source at the Homicide Unit in Accra also hinted this paper that the convict had also alleged that Nana Nkuah sent his nephew Yaw Awuah to contact him with a promise that if he (the convict) was able to provide the ex-Omanhene with a blood of pregnant woman, a hard cash of ¢20 million would be paid to him. The ex-Omanhene's nephew currently in cusody, according to our source ,promised the convict that nana Nkuah Okumdom II would release his farm which had been seized from the convict some years back to him once the diabolical act was committed.

The CID source said that the ex-Omanhene's nephew led some men who had been detailed by him (Nana Nkua Okumdom II) to the convict, who handed over to the men a pregnant woman, Felicia Djebuah who worked on his farm to be murdered in a cold blood.

The CID source said that the convict, claimed that he did not take part in the alleged murder of the pregnant woman at Sefwi-Wiawso, adding that the convict had confirmed to the police during interrogation at Nsawam prisons that the body of the murdered victim was buried in his cocoa farm after her blood had been drained to be allegedly given to the chief.

The Nsawam prison ranting revelation about the chief alleged involvement in the murder of the pregnant woman.

Inspector Darkwah of the Public Affairs Unit at the CID headquarters in Accra has confirmed to THE SUN that the ex-Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso would be given the opportunity to be cross examine the prisoner.

When the news about the revelations from Nsawan prisons got to the Sun and the ex-Omanhene was contacted at his residency at Dwinase near Sefwi-Wiawso on October 18, this year, it turned into a brawl with this reporter. THE SUN can confirm that in his deliberate attempt to foil investigations into the story about his alleged involvement in the murder of the victim, used the Takoradi soldiers working under the command of the Western Regional Minister, to gag this reporter.

This journalist was held hostage by over 50 soldiers at the ex-Omanhene's private residence at Dwinase for well over five hours after which he was escorted by a platoon of soldiers to the Sefwi Wiawso police station where the police officer, William Brown took his caution statement after interrogating this journalist.

Before being escorted away, the Takoradi soldiers working under the command of the western regional minister at Sefwi-Wiawso had demanded that the journalist should disclose his source of information.

In his response this reporter said, it was against the professional ethics to disclose or betray our source of information.

Whiles this reporter was being interrogated at the ex-chief's residence by the army commander and his cohorts from Takoradi, Nana Nkua Okumdom II said this reported was gone there when soldiers were there or else “you will see where power lies.”

body-container-line