Fake lawyer and 21 secessionists return to court

Crime and punishment of Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Source: GNA

2020-12-23

The alleged false lawyer who was captured for representing secessionists in court was indicted on Tuesday along with the other defendants in the matter.

Denis Seyram Benson is now on trial with 21 other people on the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, namely, crime of treason, conspiracy to commit a crime, that is, causing harm and causing unlawful harm.

Benson’s attorney, Rexford Nii Nortey Lokko, vehemently opposed the inclusion of his client’s name on the list of alleged secessionists.

According to Mr. Lokko, Benson had never participated in any activity of the alleged secessionists, adding that he was only arrested on December 17 of this year for allegedly posing as a lawyer for the alleged secessionists.

Mr. Lokko said it was a deliberate attempt by the prosecution to keep Benson in custody; He added that Benson has never been in police custody with the alleged secessionists for the past four months.

But the court chaired by Ms. Ama Adomako Kwakye asked Mr. Lokko to take the established steps to ensure that his client’s name was removed from the charge sheet.

Meanwhile, the court has released 11 other defendants; however, it rejected the request for bail from the 22 secessionists saying that it was not vested with the power to grant bail to the suspects with respect to the nature of the case and the jurisdiction of the court.

According to the court, it is the court of first instance that has jurisdiction to grant the bond.

In addition, it ordered the National Intelligence Office (NIB) to provide the accused with access to their lawyers.

The accused lawyers prayed for bail, claiming that their clients have been in pretrial detention for the past four months without them (the accused) having access to their lawyers, medicine and medical care.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare opposed the posting of bail, saying it was premature for the court to grant bail.

The Court deferred the matter until January 11, 2021, after the defendants were taken into custody of the NIB.

The facts narrated by the Prosecutor’s Office were that the suspects are members of a prohibited organization, the so-called Western Togoland Foundation and related organizations. He said that on September 25 this year, the suspects agreed together with a common purpose to separate from the Republic of Ghana and attacked the Aveyime and Mepe police stations in the Volta region.

The prosecution said the suspects overpowered officers at the stations, broke into their armories, and took a total of 17 AK47 assault rifles, five bomb-action pistols; a shotgun, two Macks, three pistols, three SMG rifles; eleven rubber bullets; 25 rounds of 37mm tear gas cartridges, 300 rounds of AK47 ammunition.

The prosecution said that the defendant also walked away from the patrol vehicle at the Aveyime police station.

He said the defendants and others in general also broke into police rooms in Aveyime and took televisions, sound systems, money and police supplies.

He said that on October 19 this year, police investigations led to the arrest and recovery of some items stolen from Aveyime and Mepe, including 30 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, the Six AK 47 magazine and a bayonet.

Thirty-two of the alleged secessionists were released in an Accra circuit court on Monday, December 21, but were arrested again and 22 were brought before the Kaneshie court on Tuesday, December 22.

The defendants included Nene Kwaku Agblorm II alias Joshua Tawiah Agbolorm; Abednego Dzereke Mazena; Emmanuel Hayford Afedo; Richard Doglo Ametepe; Benjamin Kplivi; Samuel Wor; Charles Elo; Richard Kwasi Norgbordzi; Stephen Kpexor; and Ebenezer Nyaletasi.

The rest are Cephas Zodanu; Moisés Gadago; Ernest Dzitor; Vincent Amaglo Gakpetor; Atigah Dziwornu aka Adonis; Godwin Adzowu; Samuel Yoa Fiagbedzi; Samuel Atsu Gagbetor; Joseph Nyamewu; Afetorgbe Kpogo; and Dennis Seyram Benson