Gbagbo's Ally laments over his freedom

Justin Katinan, an ally of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, currently in custody, is lamenting over his freedom.

Appearing before the Osu District Magistrate's Court, he indicated to the magistrate that: “I am confused now. I don’t know what is going on. What happens to my freedom?"

The magistrate, Mr. Aboagye Tandoh, told Katinan: “Your lawyer will explain things to you. These are legal issues. We have due process to follow. You have to be a man.”

Meanwhile, Ms Merley Wood, a Chief State Attorney, told the Osu District Court that the state was going to consolidate the cases before two different magistrate courts so as to avoid duplication of the courts functions.

She said the state would therefore withdraw the charge of murder before an Accra district court and come before the Osu District Magistrate's Court because at the end of the day, it amounted to the extradition process embarked by the state.

Mr. Patrick Sorgbodzor, Counsel for Katinan, said: “For us we think that when we have everything at one court, it would save time. We will wait and see what goes on.”

The matter has been adjourned to October 16.

Katinan was earlier on put before the Osu District court following charges of robbery preferred against him but was however granted GHc 50,000 bail.

However on October 1, this year, he was brought before an Accra Magistrate’s court charged with conspiracy to murder and two counts of murder.

Katinan was said to have conspired with one Dalo Desire in Cote d’Ivoire to murder two men at Port Bouet in the Ivorian city of Abidjan.

The first murder of a 33 year-old welder, Kamagate Seyobou, took place on March 19, 2011 while Diabate Drissa, 37, a trader, was murdered on March 29, 2011, both at Port Bouet.

His plea was not taken and the Magistrate, Ali Baba Bature, remanded him in custody until October 16.

The state said on March 19, 2011, Katinan conspired with Desire to murder Seydou in Port Boute in Abidjan.

According to the state Katinan and Desire on March 29, 2011 also attacked and murdered Drissa. A complainant, known as Kamgate Bakary, reported the incident to the Ivorian authorities.

On September 29, this year, Ivorian authorities issued a warrant in respect of Katinan and informed the Ghanaian authorities that he was in Ghana and demanded his arrest.