JUDGE, LAWYER THREATENED IN COURT

THERE WAS drama in the Asokwa District Court on Thursday when the Presiding Judge and a defense lawyer of three suspects in a murder case were threatened by some angry family members of the deceased person.

The Judge, Mr. Abass Adams, and the lawyer for the suspects, Mr. Evans Amankwa, were only carrying out their legal duties but family members of the deceased, Wasiu Iddrisu, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Taskforce, who was allegedly shot dead by members of the Hawks, another vigilante group in the NDC, could not contain their anger.

They appeared angry when Counsel for the defendants, Evans Amankwa, appealed to the court to grant his clients bail, assuring that they would be available to assist in investigations any time that they are needed.

This provoked family members of Wasiu to hurl insults at him in the court room and cast other insinuations at the judge. At a point, Mr. Abass Adams, the Presiding Judge, had no option than to call for the arrest of people that were causing commotion at the court premises.

The court eventually refused to grant the appeal for bail. He was told to seek bail for his clients in a higher court.

The suspects, who are still on remand, include Abdul Ganiyu, 37, affectionately called ‘Petit’, Dauda Ibrahim aka ‘Wayo’, who is 49 years old and Samuel Agyin aka ‘Rock’, who is 32 years old.

During the first appearance of the suspects in court, some family members of Wasiu, reportedly, caused trouble within the premises, but on Thursday they moved further to the courtroom proper.

The case had had since been adjourned to next week.