Hawa Vrs Mrs. Aggudey Trial: Accused was capable of carrying out threat

A prosecution witness at the on-going trial of the alleged threat on the life of Madam Hawa Yakubu yesterday told the Madina Ga District Magistrate court that the accused person Mrs. Henrietta Aggudey was capable of carrying out the threat she was alleged to have issued.

Police Corporal Albert Issa, the officer who was on duty as the Bawku Central MP's bodyguard told the court during a cross-examination that Mrs. Aggudey, a businesswoman was very furious when she allegedly threatened to wage war against Hawa Yakubu and kill her in the process.

Led in evidence earlier by police Inspector Ebenezer Darko, Cpl. Issa said he was on board the airforce plane which was returning to Accra from the Paga airstrip on March 16, this year, when the incident occurred.

He explained that while on board the flight, the accused seated behind him, tapped him on his shoulder and asked whether he was the bodyguard of Madam Yakubu, to which he said "yes."

"And she told me," Issa went on, "if you go home, tell your madam, I have declared war on her, I will make sure that she is killed."

According to Cpl. Issa, Mrs. Aggudey added "she had started this for a long time, but we will make sure that we succeed."

The corporal stated that at this time he turned back to recognize the person who was talking and followed his action with the question, "any problem?"

"Yes!" Issa said was the response of Mrs. Aggudey, and she continued, "Madam did something to me in Navrongo and I will do that to her 10 times, that I will make sure that I kill her."

"I saw that she was so furious, so I stopped talking to her. Lawyer Akoto was sitting in front of me and I directed the matter to him, he told me to keep my cool and that it was not physical," Cpl. Issa asserted.

Issa said Mrs. Aggudey jumped in and said, "yes, I said it, my name is Henrietta write it down."

According to him, Madam Yakubu saw the movement and asked what was going on and "I told her to wait and that I will tell her later, after the plane had landed on the tarmac."

He said when the plane landed he informed Hon. Yakubu that he wanted to effect Mrs. Aggudey's arrest but he was advised by the MP to report the matter to the flight captain, Wing Commander Doku.

"On the tarmac," Cpl. Issa said "the accused again attempted to prevent the MP from disembarking from the aircraft, saying that she is just an ordinary MP. That was after the flight captain had announced for the MPs and ministers to disembark from the plane first."

When asked by counsel for the accused, Mr. Tony Kwakye, whether he (Issa) asked Mrs. Aggudey why she was sending the alleged threatening message, Issa said "yes, and quoted her as saying that "she (Yakubu) did something to me in Navrongo and I will do it to her 10 times, even by her death."

Queried whether he did something to arrest her, Issa said 'no,' the plane was airborne and his action might have been construed to mean him wanting to hijack the plane.

But when counsel challenged him that he did not arrest her because the conversation which went on between them, which he, Issa, claimed was loud, did not include what he (Issa) said about killing the MP, Issa said that was not so.

Counsel: "So the communication between you and accused was that 'Are you madam's bodyguard?' You said 'yes.' She said 'when you go home, tell madam that what she did to me in Navrongo I will do it to her 10 times.' "

Issa however answered that that was not the exact communication. Hearing continues on Monday, May 19, this year.