Former DCE, 5 others to stand trial • Over Ya-Na's murder

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (Page 3 Lead)

THE Adjabeng District Magistrate Court yesterday committed the former District Chief Executive for Yendi (DCE), Mohammed Habib Tijani, and five others for trial at the High Court for their alleged role in the murder of the late King of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, and 30 others.
Tijani was subsequently remanded with Alhaji Baba Abdulai Iddrisu, alias Zohe; Kwame Alhassan, aka Achiri; Mohamadu Abdulai, alias Samasama; Sayibu Mohammed and Alhassan Braimah.
Two others, Iddrisu Iddi, alias Mbadugu, and Zakaria Yakubu, alias Zakaria Forest, are on the run.
The court, presided over by Ms Patricia Quansah, committed the accused persons for trial after a Chief State Attorney, Ms Gertrude Aikins, had informed it that the bill of indictment and summary of evidence on the case were ready.
However, Mr John Ndebugre, who represented the former DCE, and Mr Philip Addison, counsel for the other accused persons, said there was nothing incriminating the accused persons because all the matters raised by the prosecution had been delved into by the Wuaku Commission.
Three others, Baba Ibrahim, Alhassan Mohammed and Mustapha Mohammed, who were picked up last week in connection with the murder have been remanded in custody to reappear on July 7, 2010.
The prosecution is yet to prepare the bill of indictment and summary of evidence on them.
Presenting the facts of the case, Ms Aikins said succession to the Ya-Na Skin and the two royal gates to it, the Andanis and the Abudus, had been on a rotational basis.
However, the system was disrupted in 1969, bringing about a protracted litigation between the two gates and leading to the deskinment of the late Ya-Na Mahamadu Abdulai IV and the enskinment of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.
In February 2002, the celebration of the Eid ul Adha Festival brought about disturbances in Yendi and intelligence reports collected by the security agencies indicated that firearms had been smuggled into Yendi by both gates.
To avert any clash, Ms Aikins said, the District Security Committee (DISEC) convened a meeting to impose a curfew and place a ban on the celebration of the Bugum (Fire) Festival. Approval of the imposition of the curfew was given by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on March 23, 2002 and both parties were duly informed about the development. But while the Abudu Gate embraced the decision, the Ya-Na saw it as an affront to his position.
On March 25, 2002, Ya-Na Andani decided to invite his elders to the Gbewaa Palace and, therefore, sent one Ziblim Abdulai to call the Mbadugu Dugu-Lana.
However, while Ziblim was returning with the Mbadugu Dugu-Lana, the latter was attacked and assaulted by some Abudu youths.
According to the prosecution, Zakaria Yakubu alias Zakaria Forest, the seventh accused person (now at large), were seen by witnesses in the case decapitating Ya-Na Andani near a kraal, after he had been dragged there by Mahamadu Abdulai alias Samasama, the fourth accused person and one other now at large. Tijani, the then DCE, was said to be deeply involved in the conspiracy.
The prosecution said evidence would also be led to show that after Zakaria Yakubu and Zakaria Forest had decapitated the Ya-Na, others now at large poured petrol on the king’s body, after putting used car tyres on it, and set fire to it.
It said evidence would be led to prove that Iddrisu Iddi, Mbadugu, Alhaji Baba Abdulai Iddrisu, Zohe, Kwame Alhassan, Mohamadu Abdulai, Sayibu Mohammed and Zakaria Yakubu, Zakaria Forest and others at large took active part in the planning and execution of the events that took place from March 24 to 27, 2002.