Court orders BNI to give more time to murder suspect with lawyer

Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-07-17

The High Court in Accra ordered the National Investigation Bureau (BNI) to authorize Asabke Alangdi, accused of being involved in the murder of Adams Mahama alongside Gregory Afoko, to pbad more time with his lawyers.

Asabke Alangdi is currently being judged by Gregory Afoko for the alleged murder of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regional president, Upper East East, Alhaji Adams Mahama, in 2015.

The court order followed a request by Alangdi's lawyer Andrew Vortia that BNI's delay in seeing his client was not sufficient.

The lawyer said Wednesday in court that the BNI had allowed him to spend only 15 minutes with his client, a situation that hampered his efforts to defend him.

He added that BNI's actions deprived his client of his constitutional right to a fair trial.

He requested the court to order the BNI to allow him to spend at least one hour per session with his client to allow him to gather all the facts to represent him.

The court, chaired by Judge Merley Afua Wood, granted his lawyer's prayer and ordered the BNI to allow him enough time with his client.

According to the order, BNI must allow Lawyer Vortia to spend one hour per session with her client instead of minutes.

Not guilty

Afoko and Alangdi pleaded not guilty under two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

A jury of seven members was formed for the trial.

The trial continues on July 26, 2019.