A Destooled Chief of Osu, Nii Jata known in private life as Illa Ismael who was standing trial together with some fifteen others for land guard activities and illegal possession of arms and Indian hemp collapsed in Court on Wednesday.
The accused persons; Illa Ismael, Bashiru Abdul Latif, Christian Atsu, Ali Sulemana, Augustine Agornyo, Samuel Baah, James Okyere, Foster Nii Odoi, Mohammed Abukakari, Masawudu Sowala, Gafari Gyima, Yussif Assila, Aminu Musa and Emmanuel Yariu were arrested by the Police SWAT Team for terrorizing and attacking land owners at Pantang in Accra on May 30, 2020 and remanded in police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.
They are facing charges of Prohibition of activities of land guard activities contrary to Section 7(3) of Vigilantism and Related Offences ACT 2019 ACT 999, Possession of arms and ammunitions, contrary to Section 11(A) of Arms and Ammunitions ACT 1972, NRCD 9, Assault contrary to Section 84 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (ACT 29), and Possession of Indian hemp, a narcotic drug.
Illa Ishmael and the others were accused land guards activities and terrorizing the people on their land sites in Pantagn.
Upon their arrest, the accused persons on seeing the police arriving rushed into their cars to escape but they were blocked with the help of the Youth in the area and were arrested.
A search was however conducted and the police discovered in the cars, 12 ammunitions of AK47 riffle, two pistol ammunitions, a knife and three wrap of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis in 1st accused person, Illa Ishmael’s car.
Ttwo knives and three wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis were also found in the Toyota Hilux, whiles a knife and one wrap of dried leaves were found in the unregistered Toyota Sienna car which they brought to the site.
According to a Police report, Illa Ismael went to the site with 12 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition and 2 rounds of 9mm ammunition together with other offensive weapons to attack their victims and upon police interrogation, the accused persons claimed they were workers of CPS Security Services contracted by GN Bank and one Sarah Ama Forkuo of Samampa Company to guard on the land for them.
Meanwhile, the Court was full of drama when the leader of the group, Illa Ishmael collapsed in Court.
The Court however offered a GHC100, 000 bail condition and 2 sureties for each of the accused/Defendants but information gathered indicate that the Defendants were unable to honour the bail conditions hence are still locked up in Police Custody.
By: PROSPER AGBENYEGA
