Former Yendi DCE dragged to court • Over Ya-Na's murder

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 (Page 3 Lead)

THE former District Chief Executive for Yendi, Mohammed Habib Tijani, was yesterday arraigned before the Adjabeng District Magistrate Court, charged with abetment of riot and the murder of the late King of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and a number of his elders.
Tijani was remanded to reappear on Wednesday, June 15, 2010 by the court, presided over by Ms Patricia Quansah.
At the court's sitting in Accra yesterday, family members and sympathisers expressed joy when the prosecution announced that it had dropped charges against Yakubu Mohammed Alhassan, 42, one of the nine persons accused of murdering the Ya-Na.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Gertrude Aikins, announced that the prosecution had stepped down charges against two others, Mohammed Kojo, 45, and Abubakar Yakubu.
The two were, accordingly, granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties each.
They were also ordered to report themselves once a month to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service until otherwise directed by the court.
In effect, Mohammed and Yakubu are not expected to stand trial until the prosecution directs otherwise.
The other accused persons expected to stand trial are Iddrisu Iddi, alias Mbadugu, 76; Alhaji Baba Abdulai Iddrisu, 56; Mohammed Abdulai, alias Samasama, 57; Sayibu Mohammed, 34, and Alhassan Braimah, 40.
A ninth accused person, Yidana Sugri, 42, has also been granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with one surety by the Human Rights Court which indicated that the prosecution had failed to give details on why it was holding Sugri, who has been charged with one count of illegally organising military training.
The substantive matter has been adjourned to June 15, 2010 to enable counsel for the accused persons, who was said to be indisposed, to make a representation on the next adjourned date.
Security personnel detailed to restore law and order thoroughly searched persons who entered the court premises to ensure that they did not carry weapons and other unauthorised materials into the courtroom.