Accused in Mobilla murder trial denies charges

He said Mobilla was brought in by three police officers.

Corporal Appiah said initially he did not want to take Alhaji Mobilla into custody, but after WO Ebu had intervened, Mobilla was taken in.

He said after the policemen had left, his adjutant called and asked that they discipline Mobilla to know the truth about the allegations against him, but he (Corporal Appiah)  was hesitant because he did not know Mobilla.

The accused person said Mobilla refused to take lunch but later asked for water, which was given to him.

He said later the adjutant asked him to bring Mobilla out of the cells and asked Mobilla to speak the truth.

According to him, when Modzaka got back about 7 pm, he (Appiah) informed him about what happened during his absence and when Modzaka went to check on Mobilla, Mobilla did not respond when called by Modzaka, a development which prompted Modzaka to raise an alarm for Mobilla to be  taken to hospital.

During cross-examination, the accused person denied that he had asked Mobilla to undress or used a neem tree branch to beat him.

He said he could not tell the exact time that Mobilla was brought in and that although he did not examine him, Mobilla walked into the cells by himself.

 Corporal Appiah and Private Goka are standing trial on a charge of murdering Mobilla, but Private Goka is on the run and is being tried in absentia.

The case was adjourned to January 16, 2013.

Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.

While in custody, the police claimed they received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free him.

Mobilla was consequently transferred from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.

According to the prosecution, Mobilla died in military custody three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons who were on duty that day.

The pathologist’s report revealed that Mobilla was sent to hospital dead from multiple wounds.

Private Modzaka, was acquitted and discharged by the court when it upheld a submission of ‘no case’ by his lawyer.

Story by Stephen Sah