Afoko goes to High Court over murder charges

Gregory Afoko, the suspect who is being held over the death of Mr Adams Mahama, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Region Chairman, is to stand trial at the High Court in Accra.

The trial is expected to commence in a month’s time.

Afoko, a farmer, is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder.

It is alleged that he carried out the act with one Alandgi Asake who is on the run.

Afoko who pleaded not guilty to the charges told the Magistrate Court that he would rely on his statements he had offered to the Police.

“My Lord I will rely on my statements offered to the Police,” he said during the comital proceedings before the Magistrate Court.

His counsels have also stated their intent to file case of alibi in respect of the matter.

The state today under took the committal proceedings before an Accra Magistrate Court and tendered over 17 exhibits in respect of the trial.

The exhibits include Afoko’s caution, charge and investigation caution statements.

Also a post mortem of the deceased conducted on November 25, last year by Dr Lawrence Edusei, medical report on the deceased wife who also sustained injuries in her bid to assist the deceased when the incident occurred.

Other exhibits are a gallon containing the alleged residue of acid found at the scene, a cup believed to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid on to the deceased, the deceased pair of shoes and attire and a piece of carpet in the deceased car.

The rest were various reports from the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), a pair of blue black track suit belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene.

The defence team led by Mr Ekow Ampah Korsah said apart from filing a statement of Alibi, they would be calling five witnesses to testify for them.

The witnesses include Mr John Afoko, Mr David Afoko, Madam Linda Adana and Musa Issah.

Mr Korsah told the Court that they intend to fight the case praying that the matter would not stand the time of scrutiny.

According to counsel, the facts presented by prosecution represented his world view which was tainted and a product of bad investigations.

Defence counsel repeated his application for bail so he could have conference with the person in preparation for his trial at the High Court.

The Magistrate Court urged defence to go to a superior court with his bail application as it had no jurisdiction to grant bail.

Prosecution led by Mr Matthew Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, said the deceased was a contractor who lived at Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and the NPP Regional Chairman of the Region.

According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and he was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, the National Chairman of the NPP.

The state said the accused is also a Party activist, was close to the deceased.

On May 20, last year, the deceased left his house to his construction site with his pick-up truck with registration number NR 761-14.

The Chief State Attorney said the deceased returned to the house in the night and at his entrance, two men signaled him to roll down his car window.

The deceased obliged and the two men however poured acid on the deceased and they fled on motorbike.

Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid.

He said Mrs Adams also sustained burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim.

According to Mr Amponsah, the deceased wife told him that it was Gregory and Asanke who are members of the NPP who poured the acid on him.

The deceased also mentioned the two accused persons in the presence of neighbours as the people who poured acid on him.

The Chief State Attorney said Mr Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital where he passed on.

Mr Amponsah said the Police proceeded to the crime scene and collected a gallon containing the residue of the alleged acid, a cup and clothes of the assailant.

He said the passenger and driver’s seats were soaked with the acid and a pair of truck suit used by the accused was also picked up.

The items retrieved were sent to the Ghana Standard Board.

Afoko was picked up at about 0200 hrs in his house and he led the Police to Asake’s house.

Asake was however nowhere to be found.

A Post mortem was conducted on the deceased by Dr Edusei and the report indicated that Mr Adams died of extensive acid burns.

Source: GNA