Okalla Cracks Jokes In Court . . .

...But He's Slapped With ?150m Bail Bond
A SUNYANI Circuit Court, presided over by Mr G. H. K. Debrah, last Friday, granted popular comedian, Bishop Bob Okalla ?150 million bail with one surety to be justified for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl at Nkoranza in October last year. A record number of people from all walks of life thronged the court to catch a glimpse of their favourite comedian and listen to what he had to tell the court.

But they were disappointed on the latter as the four prosecuting witnesses who were summoned to appear by the court to give evidence did not turn up and the case was adjourned to June 20.Thus the court did not take statements and Okalla did not have much to say... except when he was tickled by the trial judge.

The crowd went wild when in answer to a question posed by the judge regarding how he came by the large clock that Okalla wears as wrist watch, he told the court that his popular watch was carved by an expert wielder. They went wilder when he told the court that he had not been wearing his long necktie lately because the tie was receiving treatment from an expert tailor.

Speaking with Showbiz as he was led out of the court room shortly after his bail application was granted Okalla said that it should be the prayer of every person that he or she would not be involved in a court case that is likely to throw him or her into a police cell. He said that in the police cell, one will be lucky to have a blanket to protect oneself against cold weather and the army of mosquitoes. “As for the dirt, my friend, it’s better if we don’t talk about it.” he said.

Before the bail application was granted a Sunyani based lawyer, Mr Tuah-Yeboah, who appeared for the accused person told the court that the charges against his client were mere fabrication, which have no basis. He observed that the bench warrant, served on the accused, was issued at a time when the accused person was out of the country and thus had no knowledge of it. Mr Tuah Yeboah said immediately the accused person was informed of the charge on his return to the country, he gave himself up to the Sunyani police to assist in investigation.

The lawyer noted that the fact that the principal prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court did not mean that his client has to suffer as a result and therefore prayed the court to grant him bail. The presiding judge, Mr Debrah, said Section 96 of the Criminal Code does not allow the granting of bail to the accused.

He, however, quoted Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which states that if the case is reasonably delayed, like the one before him, the court can use its discretion to grant bail to the accused person. When the case was initially brought before the court on June 2, this year, Bob Okalla pleaded not guilty to two charges of defilement and incident assault.