Ex-Yendi DCE and others in court over Ya-Na's death

Accra, June 14, GNA - Mohammed Habib Tijani, former Yendi District Chief Executive Officer, on Monday appeared before an Accra District Magistrate's Court on charges of rioting, abetment of murder and murder. The court did not take Tijani's plea. Facts of the case were also no t read out to him because his counsel was indisposed.

Tijani, 45, is being held for his alleged involvement in the alleged

murder of the late Dagbon King, Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, and some of his elders in 2002.

The court presided over by Ms Patricia Quansah, however, discharged Yakubu Mohammed also charged with the other accused persons for want of prosecution. Abubakar Mahama and Mohammed Kwadwo, whose charges had been stepped down by prosecution, were admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties each to re-appear on June 16. They are to report once every month to the Criminal Investigations Department at Police Headquarters until the final determination of the ca se or otherwise directed. The other accused persons, Iddrisu Iddi 76, Alhaji Baba Iddrisu Abda lla 54, Kwame Alhassan 53, Mohammadu Abdulai 57, Saibu Mohammed 34, and Alhas san Briamah, 40, have been remanded into police custody by the court on charg es of conspiracy and murder.

Earlier, Yidana Sugri, one of the accused persons has been admitted to GH¢10,000 bail with a surety by the Human Rights Court.

He is being held for allegedly organising military training. When the case was called on Monday before the Magistrate's Court, Ms

Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said she had receiv ed a message from defence counsel, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea that he was indispos ed and praying the court to adjourn the matter to June 16. Ms Aikins told the court that she did not oppose to bail in the case of Mahama and Mohammed but urged the court to caution them against causing a ny mayhem when granted bail. In the case of Yakubu, the DPP announced withdrawal of the charges against him. Based on that submission, the court admitted the two to bail and discharged Yakubu.

Seven accused persons including the ex-DCE for Yendi have been reman ded into police custody to re-appear on Wednesday June 16. It would be recalled that in March 2002, Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, and

some of his elders were killed following a clash between the two royal gates; Abudus and Andanis in Dagbon.

After the clash, Idrissu Janfo and Sugri were arrested and put befor e an Accra Fast Track High Court for the alleged murder of the Ya Na and so me of his elders, but were acquitted and discharged.

Government and security agencies in a fresh attempt to find the alle ged murderers of the late Ya Na, conducted a dawn swoop at Yendi during which 41 persons were rounded up. After screening them in Bimbilla, 33 were granted self recognisance bail, while the rest were escorted to Accra and put before the court.