{"id":737362,"date":"2022-01-06T10:27:03","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T10:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/01\/06\/bawku-disturbances-12-suspects-denied-bail\/"},"modified":"2022-01-06T10:27:03","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T10:27:03","slug":"bawku-disturbances-12-suspects-denied-bail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/01\/06\/bawku-disturbances-12-suspects-denied-bail\/","title":{"rendered":"Bawku disturbances: 12 suspects denied bail"},"content":{"rendered":"

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File photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

An Accra Circuit Court did not grant bail to the 12 accused persons arrested for their involvement in the renewed chieftaincy clashes in Bawku.<\/p>\n

In a ruling Wednesday, January 5, 2022, the court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh, held that the circuit court did not have the jurisdiction to grant the accused persons bail.<\/p>\n

The presiding judge explained that the matter before him bordered on fundamental human rights and, as such, it was only the High Court which had jurisdiction to grant bail.<\/p>\n

Accused persons<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The accused persons, Issahaku Barkin; Samuel Abduo Rahman; Seidu Mohammed Saani; Richard Amevor; Nantogma Kwami; Iddrisu Shaibu; Namaw Osman Nabia; Inusah Belko; Abdulai Gboo; Abdulai Nangbon Dana; Naa Tampuri and Dr Samuel Burgri, appeared before the court for the first time on provisional charges of unlawful assembly.<\/p>\n

The accused persons were arrested last Tuesday following a renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property.<\/p>\n

Sporadic shootings were recorded in parts of the town prior to the renewed clashes following attempts to perform the final funeral rites for a chief who died about 41 years ago.<\/p>\n

Bail application<\/strong><\/p>\n

Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Martin Kpebu, argued that keeping the accused persons beyond nine days constituted a breach of country\u2019s Constitutional provision.<\/p>\n

He argued that the action of the prosecution amounted to the Constitution being thrown to the dogs.<\/p>\n

Bail opposed<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Senior State Attorney, Ms Vivian Osei Tutu, who opposed the bail said the matter had been filed at the High Court on December 30, last year.<\/p>\n

According to her, once the case was at the High Court, the Circuit Court lacked capacity in any way to deal with the case.<\/p>\n

It was the submission of the AG that, the matter happened in Banku in the Upper East Region and that the Circuit Court lacked jurisdiction to deal with the case.<\/p>\n

She further argues that, though the accused persons had been held beyond 48 hours, a proper court was required to deal with the matter.<\/p>\n

She contended that the accused persons, if granted bail, will not appear to stand trial and that, the offense they committed was done when there was an imposition of a lawful curfew and a restraining order from court for them not to organise the funeral of the late chief.<\/p>\n

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