By Yvonne Asare Offei
An Accra Circuit Court has ordered prosecution to produce the suspects in the case of the Republic vs Ishahaku Barkin and 11 others before Court on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
The Judge, Emmanuel Essandoh, gave the order after prosecution led by Assistant State Attorney, Frederick Adu Gyamfi, told the Court that they could not produce the suspects due to circumstances beyond their control.
He also told the Court that his Office has not been served with any bail application for the 12 suspects. He told the Court that steps are being taken to ensure that the orders of the Court are complied with.
Defence Counsel led by Lawyer Martin Kpebu explained to the Court that he sent a copy of the bail application to the Police himself with the Court Bailiff and since the Police being their agents received it, it presupposed that they have received it as well. He further pleaded with the Court to grant the suspects bail since they have been in Police custody for more than the 48 hours required by law.
Lawyer Martin Kpebu in a media briefing after Court proceedings said it is unfortunate for the AG to have kept the accused persons for more than 48hours and he expects them to do the needful.
Meanwhile, Leader from the Royal Family of Mamprusi, Bugri Abdulai Gbawah told the media that they do not understand why their leaders have been kept, describing the act as ”kidnapping not arrest”.
The 12 suspects are on a provisional charge of Unlawful Assembly and have been in Police detention for their alleged involvement in the Bawku Chieftaincy disturbances.
This follows a renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku, last month, which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property. Sporadic shootings were recorded in parts of the town, prior to the renewed clashes following attempts to perform the final funeral rites for a Chief who died about 41 years ago.
