Bench warrant against Assemblyman for extortion.

Bawku (U/E), Jan 21, GNA- The Bawku Circiut court on Monday issued a bench warrant against the assemblyman for Songo electoral area, Albert Ndeba Aziali, for extorting 500,000 cedis from a man he accused of stealing his goat.

He is alleged to have taken the money from the suspect, Agoswini Apiiga, with the pretext of settling between them out of court. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Augustine Ayaamba, said Aziali lodged a complaint at the Garu Police station that Apiiga stole his goat last July, and he (Aziali) arrested and detained him in his house and reported the matter to the police and put before court.

The prosecution said Apiiga on several occasions failed to appear before the court, until a bench warrant was issued for his arrest adding that after the arrest he said Aziali took an amount of 500,000 cedis from him in order that he would withdraw the matter from court. The Chief Inspector said Aziali then warned Apiiga not to appear before the court anytime the case was called. He added that based on that the court invited Aziali, but he failed to appear before it on three occasions.

The presiding judge, Mr. Jacob B. Boon, ordered the warrant to be issued against the assemblyman.