Prosecution re-opens case in Ya-Na trial

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 (Page 3 Lead)

BARELY three weeks after closing its case in the Ya-Na murder case, the prosecution has declared its intention to reopen the case.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Gertrude Aikins, the state intended to call witnesses to lead additional evidence vital to the case.
She said she had filed an application to that effect but counsel for the accused persons, Mr Philip Addison, who was expected to make a submission of “no case” yesterday, said the prosecution had not provided enough grounds upon which they intended to re-open the case.
A Chief State Attorney, Mr Rexford Wiredu, had on November 5, 2010 closed the case for the prosecution to which Mr Atta Akyea, one of the lawyers for 15 persons accused of murdering the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, declared the defence team’s intention to make a submission of no case.
After the DPP’s announcement, which came as a surprise to the defence team, the presiding judge, Mr Justice E. K. Ayebi, an Appeal Court judge with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, directed the prosecution, the defence team and the court with enough grounds upon which it intended to re-open the case.
The case was accordingly adjourned to Monday, November 29, 2010.
Twelve witnesses have so far testified for the prosecution.
The accused persons are Iddrisu Iddi, alias Mbadugu; Alhaji Baba Abdulai, alias Zohe; Kwame Alhassan, alias Achiri; Mohammed Abdulai, alias Samasama; Sayibu Mohammed; Alhassan Braima and Zakaria Yakubu, alias Zakaria Forest, who is currently on the run.
The rest are Mohammed Habib Tijani, the former District Chief Executive of Yendi; Baba Ibrahim, alias Baba Zey; Alhassan Mohammed, alias Mohammed Cheampon; Mohammed Mustapha; Shani Imoro; Yakubu Yusif, alias Leftee; Hammed Abukari Yussif and Abdul Razak Yussif, alias Nyaa Dagbani.
All the accused persons, except Zakaria Yakubu, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Zakaria has been charged with murder.