Court adjourns Mobilla’s case to July 27

An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday adjourned the case of the two soldiers accused with the death of Alhaji Issa Mobilla, Former Northern Regional Chairman of Convention Peoples Party (CPP), to Tuesday, July 27.

This is because, foreman of the seven-member jury has not recovered from his ailment.

The soldiers, Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka and their accomplice, Private Seth Goka have been charged with conspiracy to murder and murdering Alhaji Mobilla.

The State is yet to arrest Private Goka, an accomplice.

Appiah and Modzaka have denied the charges and the court has remanded them into Police custody.

When sitting resumed on Monday, a member of the jury told the court that he went to the forman’s house but had been taken to Mankessim in the Central Region for further treatment.

After conferring with defence counsel and prosecution, the court adjourned the matter.

The court had granted three adjournments following the foreman’s ailment.

Under the law, whenever a jury was taken ill or dies, the court had the right to go for a substitute.

The trial judge observed that substitution go with some conditions which included starting the matter all over again.

The court stated that it would adjourn the matter for the last time but added that it would on the adjourned date take a decision as what to do.

Prosecution’s case is that the deceased, until his death, was a transport owner and Chairman of Northern Regional Branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union.

It said on December 9, 2004, the deceased was arrested by the Police for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.

While in custody, the Police allegedly received information that his sympathisers were mobilising to free him.

The deceased was transferred from Police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks in Tamale and handed over to the three accused persons who searched, undressed and put him in the guard room.

At about 2130 hours the same day, the Police received information that Alhaji Mobilla, aka Issah Mohammed, had collapsed and died in cells.

Source: GNA