Where’s our GHS640 – Kidnappers of Canadians demand from prosecutors

Two of the four suspects standing trial for the kidnapping of some two Canadian girls have accused the prosecutors of taking their money.

Nigerians Sampson Aghalor, Elvis Ojiyorwe, and Jeff Omarsar, as well as their Ghanaian counterpart Yussif Yakubu, have been accused of conspiracy and kidnapping but they have all pleaded not guilty.

The prime suspect, Sampson Aghalor, through their lawyer, Mr Yaw Dankwah, told the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice George Buadi on Thursday, 31 October 2019 that he had GHS890 of his money with the investigator but only GHS250 has been given back to him.

Another suspect, Elvis Ojiyorwe also levelled a similar allegation against the investigator.

Their lawyer subsequently prayed the court to issue an order for the release of the money which was declined because the investigator was absent from court.

The judge insisted on hearing the account of the investigator on the matter before making any pronouncement.

The counsel for the four accused persons further raised concerns about their inability to have access to the suspects who are on remand at the Nsawam Prison.

Responding to the matter, Senior State Attorney Winifred Sarpong said a trial warrant had to be secured before handing the suspects over to the Nsawam Prisons, hence the reason for the counsel being told that the suspects were not part of the individuals on remand when he went to the facility to speak to his clients.

The judge subsequently instructed the Nsawam Prisons to make the suspects available whenever they were needed by the court.



Meanwhile, the sitting judge has explained that his duty as the trial judge on the case ends by November, noting that another judge will take over the case soon.

The court further directed the prosecution to make available the names of witnesses and evidence to the defence team on or before 14 November as the case was adjourned to 21 November 2019.