Mobilla's alleged killer absconds

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (Front Page)

PRIVATE Seth Goka, one of the alleged killers of the late Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Alhaji Issa Mohammed, alias Issa Mobilla, has absconded from the military guardroom where he was being held on remand.
Private Goka and two others, Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka, had been charged with the killing of Alhaji Mobilla but Goka managed to escape from custody.
When he appeared before the Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday, a military officer who gave his name as Lt Andoh could not tell the court the exact date Goka escaped from lawful custody but gave the assurance that efforts were underway to apprehend him.
The court had enquired about the whereabouts of Goka from Lt Andoh, who informed it that Goka was away without leave, but one WOI Amoako clarified and informed the court that Goka had absconded from the military guardroom.
WOI Amoako further told the court that a guard master had informed him (WOI Amoako) about Goka’s escape.
Meanwhile, Corporal Appiah and Private Modzaka have been remanded in military custody by the court, presided over by Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, to reappear on November 26, 2009.
The pleas of the two, who looked calm when they were called into the box, were not taken.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Gertrude Aikins, hinted that due to the sensitive nature of the case, the jury would be confined until the end of the case.
She said she would make an application to that effect and further stated that the prosecution would call nine witnesses.
Mr Justice Dzamefe also hinted that not less than two witnesses would be called in a day.
Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.
While he was in custody, the police received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free the deceased.
The deceased was consequently transferred from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobilla died three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons who were on duty on that day.
Ms Aikins, who read the facts of the case, said the police who escorted the deceased to the Kamina Barracks said the deceased was well and alive when they took him there, while the accused persons had stated that the deceased had screamed for water about 8 p.m. on December 9, 2009 and collapsed soon after drinking the water.
The prosecutor said the chief pathologist’s report revealed that the deceased had been brought to hospital dead and that he had died from multiple wounds.