BNI takes blood sample of Gregory Afoko without his consent – Family

Agents of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) have allegedly taken blood sample of Gregory Afoko without his consent, family sources have revealed.

It would be recalled that the Appeals Court on April 15, 2019 threw out a suit filed by the Attorney General’s Department for a stay of execution in respect of bail granted the suspect by an Accra High Court.

It was the second time the Attorney General made an attempt stop the bail granted the suspect but lost after the first one was on Friday March 22, 2019 thrown out by the High Court presided over by Mr. Justice George Buadi. The trial judge had ruled that the request of the A-G for the suspect to remain in detention was an abuse of human rights as enshrined in the constitution and ruled by the Supreme Court.

Afoko, one of the suspects alleged to have killed the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was admitted to bail in the sum of ¢500,000 with two sureties, one of which must be justified.

Ever since he was granted bail he is yet to be released.

“You will recall, it has been two months since a court granted Gregory Afoko bail, till date however, even though Gregory has met the bail conditions, the Police has refused to obey the court order to release Gregory.

“The family of Gregory Afoko, learnt today, May 2, 2019 that the authorities, without Gregory’s consent or complaints of any sickness forcibly drew blood from him and diagnosed him with an unknown infection and has prescribed antibiotics treatment immediately, again without his consent or request,” a close relative said.

Afoko has been behind bars for the past four years while standing trial.

“He has been held without visitation from either family or lawyers for over two months,” the source claimed.

“The family is extremely worried and believes that the attempt to treat Gregory for an alleged infection they claim to have detected from the blood sample they took is a pretext to poison him.

“What is the motive for treating him for this alleged infection when all they have to do is obey the court order, release him to his family who can get the best healthcare available for him, if he is indeed sick.

“The family’s hope and prayer now is that their suspicion is not true,” the close relative stressed.

They are calling on civil society organisations to rally Ghananians to demand justice for Afoko.

Starrfm.com.gh is yet to receive official reaction about the allegation.