Nigerian refused bail for allegedly robbing a soldier

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday refused bail to Emmanuel Okpa, a Nigerian who allegedly robbed a Ghanaian soldier, which later led to his death.

The plea of Okpa has not been taken and he is to make his next appearance on October 15. His accomplice is currently on the run.

Mr Ashong Okai, a State Attorney, told the Court presided over by Mrs Afi Agbanu Kudormor that, on January 12, 2018, at about 1800 hours, Sergeant George Boakye (now deceased) of the Ghana Military Police and attached to the Flagstaff House was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser in the company his girlfriend.

On reaching Community 17, in Tema in the Greater Accra Region, they stopped to buy food but did not get some.

Mr Okai said they further drove to Community 19, to a spot in front of the Corpus Christi Senior High School, where Sergeant Boakye stopped for Cleopatra Mends, the girlfriend and witness in the case to urinate.

The State Attorney said while Boakye was waiting, two men armed with pistols attacked him in an attempt to snatch his vehicle.

A struggle ensued between him and his assailants and in the process they shot him and drove off whilst he was still hanging on the vehicle, as the girlfriend shouted for help.

He said luck eluded them as they run into a ditch about five hundred metres away from the point of attack, and the robbers fearing for their lives bolted into a nearby bush, while Boakye was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital by the girlfriend with assistance from onlookers.

Boakye was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital whilst a report was made to the police, he said.

The Prosecution said on April 20, Police intelligence led to the arrest of Okpa at Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra.

Three days later, an identification parade was held by the Accra Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where Miss Mends identified him as one of the attackers of the deceased, the State Attorney said.

In his caution statement, Okpa denied being present (pleaded alibi) at the time of the crime.

Mr Okai, prayed with the Court to keep Okpa in custody as he, did not have a fixed place of abode and might jump bail when granted, however, he called on the judge to use her discretion in granting bail.

He also urged the judge to consider the nature, gravity and frequency with which the offence occurs.

Okpa’s counsel had applied for bail, stating that there was no law in Ghana preventing foreigners from being bailed, adding that, his client would not run away as he had a permanent place of residence, living there with his wife and children.

There are also persons of substance to stand surety as they had been with him since his arrest.

The Court in weighing the two sides, refused the application.