Kaaka’s murder trial adjourned to February 14

The Asokwa District Court in the Ashanti Region has adjourned the case involving three persons who are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the murder of social activist, Ibrahim Muhammed, popularly known as Kaaka in Ejura, to 14th February 2022.

During the previous hearing, the lead prosecutor who doubles as the Ashanti Regional Head of Legal and Prosecutions, Chief Superintendent Kofi Blagodzi, could not appear in court but asked a colleague to stand in for him. Also, the Attorney General’s advice on the case was not ready.

The Magistrate presiding over the case, Her Worship Akua Adu Boahene, expressed her dissatisfaction with the prosecution over the series of adjournments in the case.

She was also worried that this was the second time there had been no update from the prosecution as the suspects were not in court.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the suspects were present in court, but the lead prosecutor, Chief Superintendent Kofi Blagodzi, and the Magistrate, Akua Adu Boahene were not present, as the latter is on leave.

The matter has thus been adjourned to 14th February 2022.

Kaaka died on Monday, June 28, 2021, after he was attacked by unknown assailants while returning home from an event he attended in the area.

Earlier reports suggested that Kaaka was killed because of his social activism, which some persons felt was making the government unpopular, but police reports suggest otherwise after three people including his brother were arrested and put before the court over the killing.

The Interior Ministry subsequently constituted a three-member committee chaired by Justice George Kingsley Koomson to probe the issue and make recommendations.

Lack of Action

The family a month ago expressed worry over the delay in implementing recommendations made by the Ejura committee of enquiry.

According to the family, they are yet to be officially informed about the findings of the committee’s report and compensation to be given to victims of the shooting by some security personnel that left two residents dead and four others injured.

Addressing the media during a courtesy call by the family on the Peace Council, the lawyer for the family, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, called on the government to compensate the victims and assure the people of Ejura that justice will be served.

“The National Peace Council together with the Vice President and National Chief Imam all went to Ejura to speak with the victims and assured them that justice will be served. Since the report has come, the family has embarked on another visit to the National Chief Imam, they’ve requested to meet with the Vice President. They’ve now come to see the National Peace Council. Coming here is to recognize that the people have kept faith in those words and believed that if they trust these institutions, their voice will be heard, but it’s been 6 months.

“The urgency with which the president acted to get a committee and get them to release the report within 7 days, we haven’t seen that sense of urgency applied to moving forward and dealing with the report of the committee. A lot of them are hurt and are incurring debts to be able to take care of their physical and emotional injuries through the actions of our own military,” he said.

 

Source: Citi News