Bimibilla suspects refused bail

A District Court in Accra has turned down bail application by three persons allegedly involved in the Bimbilla clashes which resulted in fatalities and destruction of properties.

The court presided over by Mr. Ebenezer Kweku Ansah asked defence counsel, Mr Abu Juan to seek bail at a superior court.

This was after Mohammed Kadri, a Casual worker, Sulemana Mohammed Sheriff, a Store Keeper and Yakubu Zubieru a Tractor Operator had made their second appearance at the Court in Accra.

Defence Counsel, Mr Juan prayed the court for bail for the accused persons.

The three accused persons are being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder.

The accused persons who pleas were not taken were remanded into police custody to reappear on March 22.

Prosecuting Detective Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu said the Police were in court to plead for extension of time pending further investigations into the matter.

The case as presented by prosecution was that the accused persons are natives of Bimbilla in the Northern Region.

According to the prosecutor after the death of Naa Abariga, the overlord of the Naumba Traditional Area in 2003, there had been series of clashes resulting in several deaths.

Prosecution said on February 9, this year, the regent of Bimbilla was enskined as a Warrior Chief. After the ceremony, the three accused persons together with others, now at large armed themselves with offensive weapons and petrol and set 21 houses ablaze.

According to prosecution, they also attacked the household of the three persons, namely Nangtomah Awadu, Taiba Alhassan and Mariam Mohammed.

Prosecution said Awabu and Taiba who were fired at, died instantly. Mariam who also sustained gunshot wounds was rushed to the Bimbilla Government Hospital where she was admitted but died the following day after being referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The prosecutor said the accused persons were “positively identified” by witnesses by a combined team of Police and Military personnel stationed at Bimbilla and brought to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters.

Prosecution however mentioned that the deceased have since been buried.

Source: GNA